Hello again, friends and strangers.
I am visiting my hometown again, trying to escape the round-the-clock Russian attacks, the wailing sirens, and the lack of electricity and water. But on the day I arrived, a jet-powered drone reached this place for the first time. A person was killed. Since then, these attacks have become a daily occurrence. And yet, it is still much better here than in Kyiv right now. Besides, the inverter at our home broke down on the day I left. I am writing this under another air raid.
My arrival coincided with a beautiful autumn season, when it wasn't yet too cold and the landscapes were enchanting with their rich, diverse colors. I spent seven and a half hours behind the wheel with barely a break. Gas stations close during air raid alerts as a likely targets, and there was an alert for most of the day. However, the scenery was so stunning that it made up for my fatigue and hunger.
We had one sunny, warm day over the weekend, so my daughter and I drove out of town to enjoy the enchanting beauty of autumn and visit a few places in neighbourhoods where we had never been before. All pictures here are taken with my smartphone (More are coming in a better quality).
Our first stop was an abandoned Catholic church. No photograph can capture the atmosphere of this place. While searching for an entrance amidst the thickets, we spotted a huge owl. It flew silently beneath the tree canopy, perched on a large branch, and watched us.
The next stop was the Rey estate. It, too, was abandoned and partially ruined, even though a convent had been there just twenty years ago. Everything becomes overgrown and falls into decay so quickly. It is so strange and sad.
What does autumn look like in your area? And what small things bring you comfort right now?
