Meet Baba Lena: At 83, this Siberian grandmother finally chased her lifelong dream, travelling to around 20 countries after waiting a lifetime for the right moment

Dreams often fade with age, but Elena Erkhova, better known as Baba Lena, refused to let hers disappear. At 83, the Siberian grandmother left behind the familiarity of her home in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, and embarked on the adventure she had imagined for decades. Living on a modest pension, she funded her travels by selling flowers, knitting handmade clothes and saving every spare ruble she could. Carrying only a small backpack, she went on to visit around 20 countries, discovering new cultures and forming friendships wherever she travelled. Her remarkable journey captured global attention after it went viral online, inspiring millions with the message that it is never too late to pursue a lifelong dream. Who was Siberian grandmother Baba Lena?Elena Mikhailovna Erkhova, better known around the world as Baba Lena, was born in 1927 and spent most of her life in Krasnoyarsk, one of the largest cities in Siberia, Russia. For decades, she lived an ordinary life, working, raising her family and relying on a modest state pension after retirement. Like many people of her generation in the former Soviet Union, international travel remained out of reach because of financial limitations and the ...