+386 (0)2 429 91 20 info@radiosi.eu
Select Page

SCOUTS: Elena and Mihajl

2023 FINALIST - Murska Sobota

May 2023

Escape from Murska Sobota – Vujdi vö s Sobote

I have always been an adventurer.  Even my move to little Slovenia from Moscow 4 years ago was kind of a gamble.  So, when I saw in April that Radio SI was looking for scouts, I responded immediately.  And after a couple of days I found out that my friend and I were going to Prekmurje.  Prekmurje!  The most remote region (I live on Obala).  Before coming here, all I knew about this region was Prekmurska gibanica (sweet pastry with poppy seeds, cottage cheese and apples).

It was the first warm weekend of the month, but the city was not yet full of tourists, so we managed to enjoy the trip in a relaxed and exclusive format.  Everything was planned by the organizers inside and out, we were transferred from one caring hand to another – and it was damn unusual.  The road from Obala took more than two hours, we arrived in the morning and of course we started with coffee in a cozy cafe of the Murska Sobota Tourist Center.  Here after warm welcome, we were given a map, a note with a hint, and the quest around the city began.  Probably no guidebook would give such a complete and broad view of the history, culture, architecture, and nature of this amazing place!  We explored the city and surroundings on foot and by bike/scooter, visited a unique beer bar in the style of Mad Max and the expo center (where we want to return for a more detailed study).

The accommodation at the brand new Belmur Boutique Hotel was fantastic – stylish sunny loft, balcony overlooking the dome of the city’s most beautiful building, spotless beds, free parking – what more could you want?

But the day was not over yet – the icing on the cake was dinner at the Kodila meat restaurant in the suburbs of Murska Sobota.  What a dinner it was!  Various local meat specialties, steak, champagne, an open kitchen where you could see the process of creating dishes by a charismatic chef.

Full, tired and satisfied, we returned to the hotel to wake up the next morning to the birdsong, have breakfast in the company of the hotel’s owner (God, I will not forget this sumptuous breakfast with ocvirki, baked eggs in bacon, all kinds of yogurts and freshly baked bread!) and go to get acquainted with the Mura (the river that gives the city its name).  The locals pronounce the name Mura in a special, soft manner (Müra).

It is hard to imagine a better company for going down the river than Marco and his team (murske čolnarji).  The whole hour of the descent to the Island of Love was full of interesting stories, legends, laughter, surrounded by stunning nature around.  There were kids on our boat, and it wasn’t extreme rafting but more of an adventurous outing.  And of course, again and again, hospitable locals treated us to local specialties, fresh pastries.

At the end of the trip, we were even initiated into boatmen “čolnarji” (I hope this part doesn’t get into the media though 😂). We finally met the Radio SI team for a traditional Prekmurje breakfast (God, food again! Toasted bread on a fire with zaseka (chopped lard with garlic and salt) and for a short closing interview.  It is hard to imagine that so many events, emotions and meetings fit into one weekend.  The hospitality of the locals, the unique region, excellent organization is the key to an unforgettable holiday for the whole family.

Thank you, radio SI, I can’t waito be your scout for other amazing destinations!

Elena & Mihajl

Photos by: Elena and Mihajl

back to the list

FINALIST#1: The Secret Rooms of Hotel Jama

FINALIST#1: The Secret Rooms of Hotel Jama

HIDDEN GEMS – finalists – 2023 EN

Since it was built in 1971, Hotel Jama has accommodated millions of visitors to the world-famous Postojna Cave. But it used to be more than just an ordinary hotel. Up until 1991, the hotel had lived a double life, which was not revealed until its renovation in 2016. The secret rooms inside the hotel bear witness to the activities of the secret services of the former system and to the bygone times. Hidden deep inside the hotel building is a communications centre of a very special kind, which raises more questions than it answers.

(more…)

SCOUTS: Taahira and Paola

2023 FINALIST - Postojna

May 2023

”Postojna”

Paola and I spent a weekend at Postojna in Hotel Jama. The weather was incredible, and the excursion to see the 16th century huge caves with our guide Kevin was remarkable! He was super informative and answered all my curiousities including the info about the salamander that I had not seen before.

After the caves, Kevin brought us on a relatively new experience called the secret rooms of Hotel Jama, which revealed a very unexpected series of rooms within the hotel property, linked to a time during Tito’s rule when there was presumed suspicion and recordings of certain groups of people. The rooms were only discovered in 2016 even though, they appered to have been around since 1970s. The items were kept as they were since then and raised a lot of questions to me on how many things have been kept a secret in Slovenia.

The next day we went to the Postojna cave castle, which was my first time seeing a castle within a cave that was also incredible stunning and a reminder of the ways people lived in the past.

It was an amazing trip! 😀

Taahira and Paola

Photos by: Taahira and Paola

back to the list

FINALIST#9: The Dragon’s secret tour of Ljubljana

FINALIST#9: The Dragon’s secret tour of Ljubljana

HIDDEN GEMS – finalists – 2022 EN

Discover a Green diamond at the doorstep of Ljubljana with us. We will travel between the Legends & Now. Experience Ljubljana Marshes – the homeland of our most iconic inhabitant – the Ljubljana Dragon, who is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The wetlands are inhabited by as many as 89 butterfly species and provide a habitat for several bird species endangered across Europe and the world.

(more…)

SCOUTS: Martina, Charlotte and Gabi

2022 FINALIST - Ravne

September 2022

”Our trip to Ravne na Koroškem ”

I Martina, my daughter Charlotte and Gabi were invited by Radio SI to discover the „Hidden gems of Slovenia”. This trip went into the mountain area around Ravne na Koroskem.
I am German and now resident in Ptuj since 2 years, Charlotte is a student in Munich and Gabi lives in the Black Forest Area, close to the French border.

On our arrival in Ravne at the Hostel Punkl, Tim and Nina welcomed us with a big smile and lots of information about the area, as well as some souvenirs, e.g. Ski-hats and pottery, made by some local people with disabilities – very kind, thanks a lot! The rooms were mostly equipped with private bathroom and nice open kitchen for all guests.

Tim gave us an overview about the places to see in Ravne and the surrounding mountains. Ravne has a big steel factory with a long history, in previous years there worked up to 8500 people, now approx. 3500. This factory does a lot for the wellbeing of its employees and created huge facilities for leisure, sports, fun and adrenaline-spots, as well as a swimming and wellness centre. The ski-lift is an all year attraction: for winter sport and from spring to autumn as transport for the down-hill bikers.

The hostel Punkl is next to the sport centres, next to the castle with a famous library, the park with plenty of steel art from a symposium „Forma viva“, including the attraction „Meteorit“ with the inbuilt solar-collectors for night illuminations, very popular for all photographers – a must see. Many other artworks made from steel are placed all over the city of Ravne.

Our next program was the steel factory museum, where Carla showed us the collection of 400 years of history of the factory SIJ Metal Ravne, which is on a huge area, 3 km long, and the workers homes that were constructed during the last decades. She explained all the various stages of the production lines, with original items in the show rooms from the past and modern times. Actual production can be seen in videos.
In a second room there are historical gems with impressive machines, like the an oven and other huge historical hammers and equipment from the various steel production lines.

Carla also drove us through the whole factory main road with all the actual production buildings with all the various products, from raw steel blocks to the various end products for the world markets.

We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at the DELALUT restaurant, next to the headquarter of the factory, the service and the over-all experience was great!

We finished our day in the indoor swimming pool, whirlpool and various sauna rooms. It was a relaxing end of the day.

After a good night in Punkl and great breakfast, our next stop was the lake „Ivarčko Jezero“ surrounded by mountains and lots of facilities for relaxing at the lake, drinking, eating, BBQ, sports like basketball, minigolf, table tennis, and of course hiking trails, especially to the Mt Uršula, the dominating hill of this mountain chain.
We proceed to the wooden cottage „Smučarska Koča“, where tourists, bikers, hikers and skiers have food and drinks, wood crafts and a spectacular view! We enjoyed a wild garlic soup, traditional music and the historical pictures of sportsmen in skiing, including the Olympic gold medal winner Tina Maze, who grew up in this area, like 7 other Olympic swimmers.

We proceeded to the traditional home of the local hero, Prežihov Voranc, a socialist activist, writer and partisan, with the original old style of wooden small farmhouse in a spectacular landscape in the mountains and Kotlje. The guide explained us the historical interior design and we bought local souvenirs with lilies of the valley, the favourite flower of his mother. He wrote a story or poem about it, but unfortunately none of his books is available there, many of his books were translated into other languages all over the world even into Chinese.

We proceeded to our last meeting point, the local traditional restaurant Gostilna Lečnik, where we met Ksenija, Tim and Nina, and enjoyed nice food and drinks, the local cider, called „Most,“ as well as a men choir with traditional dalmatian songs to honour the „mother of the restaurant“ for her 80st birthday.

We are all happy that we had the chance to see this part of Slovenia, with its beautiful typical alpine Corinthian landscape, with Hops plantations for the local beer, natural treasures, the food, the friendly people and we were blessed with fantastic weather, sunshine, and thank you all very much for hosting us in such a nice way.

Good luck for the future!!

Martina, Charlotte and Gabi

Photos by: Martina and Gabi

back to the list

SCOUTS: Briza and Toni

2022 FINALIST - Ptuj

August 2022

”Travel Through Time in Ptuj”

Ptuj! Just as fun to visit as it is to say. (Make sure a visit to the “chicken’s neck” of Slovenia is on the top of your travel list!)

Hospitality is in the details. Do we have impaired physical mobility? Do we enjoy active versus relaxing experiences? Will our dog be joining? I love the inclusivity and welcoming spirit that Radio SI and the Ptuj team showed us.

The way the guest house Hiška pri Tisi was arranged and stocked with tasty vegan goodies, our gracious host, Natasha, welcoming us in person, and the care we were treated with each step of our “Travel Through Time.”

Beginning with all these comforts allows for great adventure! When there is a cozy home-away-from-home structure, that makes it all the easier for tourists to get going and explore and enjoy the new atmosphere.

I loved our “Ptuj-Travel Through Time” package. It was flexible yet also had a lot of options to participate in. One aspect that meant a lot to me was incorporating time for nature and e-biking. As an athlete I don’t like to take days off from exercising. The bike-ride from Ptujska Gora to the Ptuj castle was a delight. Crossing over the Drava River and traveling up to the castle by bike made it more memorable than simply going by car.

Toni is the history buff and can share more specifics on the castle, but what caught my eye was the ornate ceiling decor and detailed wall murals. Keeping the spark of learning alive is wonderful (even writing this I’m now researching the proper name for the ceiling decor- so much to continue to explore!).

*Side note! Seeing the concert hall in the castle encouraged me to do some researching for future events. I came upon the website “Castle Road” which lists several castles in Austria and Slovenia and activities such as classical music, opera and even a balloon ride!*

The “Herberstein Cellar” was a charming and delectable event. One of my favorite parts happened even before we went down to the cellar! Our hosts took us around their property and pointed out various cities and regions in the distance. They explained that it was the perfect place to watch the view of the vineyards and the sun from its rising to its setting (how many places have you stayed that are that picturesque!). I found it so special.

They began explaining visions of expanding the house and even installing an infinity pool! (Holy smokes: overlooking the vineyards of a traditional family farm, a glass of wine in hand, leaning over an infinity pool to watch the sun dip down for the night. Count me in! We’ll be back for sure!) The passion and care with which they run their business is admirable. And the actual tasting of the wine and the meat/cheese platter was flawlessly enjoyable.

Toni was especially eager to scout out such delicious wine (and vegan goods provided by Hiška pri Tisi) with the idea of making them available in the Ljubljana market through Prodajalna Rž, his mother’s health food store, on Celovška cesta.

There is so much to include… I’ll try to wrap it up! The “living museum” Herberstein House on Štotperk is a gentle haven. It’s no wonder to hear that international and Slovenian tourists alike seek it out even as it’s off the beaten path. The thatched roof and the ceiling of logs spoke to me the most.

Our next stop, the restaurant Rozika in Ptuj, filled us wonderfully with traditional Slovenian dishes such as beef soup and “štruklji”. Slovenia’s blueberry liqueur, “borovničke,” was the perfect conclusion. The servers were very warm and friendly to us.

How could this trip get any better? It did. We met with SI Radio’s lovely Lidija for coffee at Huda Liza on Vurberk castle. The view was incomparable and the conversation and reflection were delicious (as was the coffee).

Had we been able to fit in just one more thing, we were keen to try out the high ropes course in the Pustolovski Park Vurberk. (The more one explores the more one finds!)

A HUGE thank you to Radio SI for inviting us to participate in “Slovenia’s Hidden Gems.” Thank you to all of our incredibly gracious hosts, and thank you to Toni, the best adventure partner. Adventure on, friends!

Briza Bohne and Toni Hočevar

Photos by: Briza & Toni

back to the list

SCOUTS: Monica and Gerald

2022 FINALIST - Kamnik

August 2022

In the embrace of the mountains, discover the treasures of Kamnik and its countryside

When you think you know Slovenia, the so called “Little Green Piece of Europe”, you will be proven wrong in no time. As we lived in this country from 2003 – 2010 and are now back again in Slovenia since 2019, running an Institute for Education and Business Services, we thought we had seen pretty much of Slovenia. But the fact is, we are still getting surprised by the diversity of the landscape, cultural heritage, dialects and accents, food & drink, incredible initiatives and ambitious people – day by day. From 5th – 6th August 2022 Radio SI and the Tourist Information Centre Kamnik gave us the chance to discover hidden gems in the Kamnik region, that we passed by earlier travelling through Slovenia for years, without even knowing about them. But even Slovenians we talked to, were astonished by what we were shown and what was demonstrated to us in their neighbourhood.

We have reason to introduce you to what we have experienced in just two days’ time:

A guided tour organized by TIC Kamnik and conducted by Ana Gruden, who got us in touch with the hanging signboards, symbolizing the work and craft of her owners. Stories about secrets of the town, that might attract you to find out even more. Following “footprints” of mysterious Veronika, a mermaid or more a snake, up to Mali Grad, with its two chapels, one on top of the other and a wonderful view of Kamnik and the Alp mountains. Made possible by Friar Franci, a visit at the Franciscan friary in Kamnik, was a mere privilege. Friar Franci ushered us to the library with a collection of invaluable books, among them an original of the first Bible translated by Jure Dalmatin into the Slovenian language.

A break at the Restaurant REPNIK, only some few minutes out of Kamnik, gave us the chance to reflect what we had discovered so far, enjoying regional food and drinks, that were prepared and presented in a modern style and served with detailed information about the origin and nowadays production.

Refreshed and curious enough, we dived into the world of organic farming at Ekološka kmetija pri Vodiškarju, where Iris Golob opened the farmhouse of her husband’s ancestors, about 500 years old, and gave us an incredible insight into living conditions in the 17th Century. We enjoyed the hospitality of the whole Golob family and her products, close to the place where a mammoth skeleton was found in 1938.

We spend the night at Slovenia Eco Resort in Godič, close to Kamnik, sleeping in one of the little wooden houses of the Velika Planina style, shephards used to live in.

The second day, Nina Semprimožnik surprised us in Motnik with fairy tales of giant snails you may still find whenever you look out carefully, narrated by a Slovenian “colleague” of the Brothers Grimm, or Charles Perrault or Joseph Jacobs in a regional dialect, translated to high Slovenian just a few years ago. We listened to the story of the Rhino remnants, that were excavated in Motnik in 1910, and the network and festival of “Prangerijada” – the “Pillory Games” no one would have thought of, who really was tied to a pillory in former times. One can assume that we were offered a typical lunch with regional products afterwards as a logical matter of fact.

Even more incredible stories we learned at Sv. Miklavž na Gori, were Tatjana Cevec Drolc and her team are doing voluntary work, to restore and preserve the magnificent church and the remnants of buildings on top of the 757m high hill that is more than worth climbing it. And as the last step we were lucky enough to get acquainted with Sonja Kropivšek at Kmetija Pr´Gabršk, where we not only got to know how her father Jože and brother Kristijan cared for the 18 cows, all with an individual name, not just how her mother Helena made a unique cheese, but also how Sonja herself made Trnič, a traditional type of cheese of the Velika Planina shepherds. The tradition was preserved by just one old lady from whom Sonja learnt how Trnič is made, just some time before the lady passed away. This tradition and knowledge of a cultural heritage, that was a symbol for the region for centuries would have died with her if Sonja had not learnt this skill and teaches it in workshops she offers.

People like the 30-year old Sonja, who decided not to finish her studies in civil engineering, but followed her family tradition with modern approach and management adaptation, are the ones who stand for a young generation, that lives in our present times, but appreciates the values of what was created by generations of ancestors, in order to provide a sustainable deal with regional food production in a healthy environment, that is threatened already by the consequences of the climatic change.

Sonja Kropivšek, Tatjana Cevec Drolc, Iris Golob, together with their families and companions, are the ones, who keep cultural heritage alive, without asking for an immediate benefit. They therefore urgently need the support of a society, that has its benefit by the dedication of individuals like the people we had the chance to visit and talk to. The outcome of their work we experienced in these two very intensive days is valuable even far beyond Slovenia.

We would like to thank Radio SI and TIC Kamnik for the invitation and organisation of our trip into an unknown world just around the corner, and an experience partly out of time. And furthermore, we would like to invite everyone to do the same and support all the amazing people, initiatives and projects that do not just preserve a cultural heritage, but even more enrich our lives.

Dr. Monica and Dr. Gerald Hühner

Photos by: Gerald Hühner

back to the list
Vodiškarjeva kmečka hiša, Nevlje
Vodiškarjeva kmečka hiša, Nevlje

SCOUTS: Ruth and Elly

2022 FINALIST - Litija

July 2022

”ŠMARTNO CULINARY ADVENTURE”

Our day started in the city center where we met our guide. Our first destination was Čebelarstvo Dremelj. Here we got a tour on their beekeeping farm. They are widely known for their queen breeding program. Afterwards they served us a delicious breakfast with a lot of honey, of course.

Our second destination was the Šmartno pri Litiji city center. Our guide took us to the church of St. Martin. The church was built out of bricks produced back in the days in it’s own village. The interior was also worth seeing and revealed interesting facts.

At noon we went to Gostilna pri Mačku where we tasted a traditional dish, prepared by the chef’s grandmother. We had the pleasure to meet the chef and he gave us some facts about the history of the ‘Gostilna’ and he showed us his wine cellar.

Our third destination was Primskovo. First we went on top of the hill where we could see 3 churches and some leftovers from the anti-Turkish defensive wall. Afterwards eco-farm Vodnjov welcomed us with some tastefull fruity snacks and took us for a walk in a part of their farm.

Our last stop was at the Bogenšperk castle. They offered us immediately a glass of Wagenšperg sparkling wine, which we gladly accepted. Our guide gave us a lot of interesting info about the famous Slovenian polyhistor Valvasor, who lived and worked in this castle.

To end our busy day, we got pampered with a culinary castle dinner and a visit to the wine cellar.

Although our day was quite busy, we really enjoyed every moment!

Thanks to Radio for giving us the opportunity to go on a daytrip around this beautiful country.

Ruth and Elly

Photos by:  Ruth & Elly

back to the list

FINALIST#5: Šmartno Culinary Adventure

FINALIST#5: Šmartno Culinary Adventure

HIDDEN GEMS – finalists – 2022 EN

To start the day, we invite you to the Dremelj homestead, where the fourth generation has been engaged in beekeeping. They present their activity, show us the apiary, the process of honey production, with the help of photo material they explain the process of breeding queens, for which they are known far and wide. They prepare a real beekeeper’s breakfast for you, homemade bread with honey, along with honey lemonade and tea or coffee with honey.

(more…)

SCOUTS: Hugh and Zala

2022 FINALIST - Sostanj

June 2022

‘’Noble Šoštanj’’

Our day began with a morning drive to Šoštanj, where the clouds over the thermoelectric plant told us we were nearing our first stop. In a beautiful green valley, we were greeted at the Lajše aerodrome landing strip by our very smartly dressed host for the day, Miha, who we found waiting for us beside an exciting four-seater airplane.

We were given an aerial tour of the Šalek valley, with incredible views over the artificial lakes that had been formed as a result of the coal mining operations in Velenje and its surroundings.

Miha told us how the legendary Czech entrepreneur and shoe manufacturer, Tomaš Bata, landed his own plane in Šoštanj in 1931, to everyone’s surprise, and that this is fondly remembered as an important moment in the history of the local leather industry as Tomaš collaborated with Šoštanj leather factory and its owners, the Vošnjak family in his grand ambition to provide shoes for millions.

After a smooth landing that came all too quickly, still buzzing with excitement after our sky adventure, we were met by another marvellous vehicle – a 1955 vintage Opel car.

A short but scenic drive brought us to our second stop of the day, the former home of the Vošnjak family, who started the leather industry in Šoštanj and saw it grow into the largest producer of leather goods in South-East Europe. We were struck by the beauty and grandeur of the estate, which is at present unoccupied and without any function but has been maintained enough to have given us a feel for the grand lives the Vošnjaks had lived.

Our next stop was Villa Mayer in the town centre. The villa, former home of the Mayer family, was built by lawyer Dr. Fran Mayer, who served as mayor of Šoštanj between the wars and now serves as a museum with various exhibitions. Here we learned a bit more about how Šoštanj’s various industrial ventures have interacted the very landscape and population of the area.

We were then served a delicious four-course lunch with excellent wine pairing, including a selection from the nearby winery Zlati Grič. The menu had been carefully chosen to evoke the traditional culinary options of the bygone era we had been transported to. The heavy inclusion of štruklji was a real treat!

Accompanying our meal was a short film with an even more comprehensive history of the leather factory – from its beginnings to its eventual state ownership and official closure in 1999. Watching the incredible expansion and adaptation of the factory unfold decade by decade was fascinating, and its significance in Šoštanj’s recognition as a city was very impressive.

After a short stop at a charming local cafe, we made our way to the Museum of the Leather Industry of Slovenia, housed within the last remaining building of what had once been an extensive factory complex. Having learned much during the day already about the Vošnjak family and the development of their factory, we were now given a better understanding of the type of work that the factory produced and of the lives of the factory employees, who were such an essential part of this story.

This tour also allowed us to see up close some of the fantastic machinery used in the factory; large and imposing, but at the same time, many of these were very elegantly designed. We were less charmed, however, by accounts of the accidents that some of these machines caused! Before leaving the museum, we were given a small souvenir to put together ourselves.

Finally, we made another short walk to the main square of Šoštanj’s town centre, where the sound of triumphant classical music marked the end of our journey.

We highly enjoyed this experience full of interesting stories, adrenaline, great food and history in a corner of Slovenia we previously hadn’t known much about. Many thanks to RADIO SI and to the Šalek Valley tourist board, our guide Miha, Urška, Tina, Ksenija and others for an amazing and educational day.

Hugh and Zala

Photos by:  Hugh & Zala

back to the list

SCOUTS: Euan and Katja

2022 FINALIST - Maribor

May 2022

‘’ROCK’n’ROLL OF TASTES in MARIBOR’’

Our two-day trip began in Maribor at the oldest fruit-producing vine in the world. We met up with our tour guide Barbara and the two lovely members of staff who work there. It was a perfect way to start the day, finding out the many scenarios the vine had survived throughout its 400-year history and also getting a short history lesson about the wine production in the region. We were also able to try a delicious wine from the ‘daughters’ of the vine.

From there, Barbara played the first rock song of the day while we walked to our next destination. At Restaurant Fudo we were greeted by the sounds of the Rolling Stones and surrounded by famous rock album art on the walls. Not only that but we had a pleasant breakfast which included homemade pumpkin oil butter and avocado (and a cheeky glass of sparkling wine!)

Our next destination brought us to HiKoFi and the very knowledgeable barista, Gregor. He provided us with a cold-brew coffee (which neither of us had experienced before) and showed us how it is made in a large structure on the counter there. We also sampled some delicious coffee in the form of an espresso while Gregor told us more about the process and where the beans come from. We definitely came away with a greater appreciation of the variety of tastes you can experience from coffee when it isn’t just bought from the store!

At the Maribor castle museum we were met by a large interactive board representing a dinner table showing the development of cuisine in the country. It was a very clever and aesthetically pleasing way to convey the changes that happened over the centuries. The surrounding walls were full of instruments, items, clothing and stories typical of a Slovene vineyard.

We ventured onwards to the delightful LeVino. Here we met Vida who, with her fun and friendly energy, provided us with wine paired with cheese and music (we won’t spoil which!) while we sat in a cosy courtyard. It was a fun way to experience the wine and they were all great songs! The establishment also has a cool cellar for parties!

Our final stop in the centre of Maribor brought us to GT22. It provides a creative/alternative space for people in the city as well as putting on events. Here we found photograph collections, workers creating puppets and beehive art, a radio studio, a beehive on the roof and even a skate-boarding half-pipe! There were even more rooms we didn’t get to see but it was clear this location provides a great service to the city. Next time, we might take a little more time between visiting GT22 and going to the next destination as we were running behind at this point.

To really top off our time in the city we were fortunate enough to go to Restaurant Mak, a short journey from the centre. The food was presented in a beautiful way and tasted even better. Attempting to describe the food wouldn’t do it justice but it might make you emotional! This is all down to the quirky, enigmatic chef, David. It’s clear he is a master of his craft. Just make sure you don’t snack too much during the day before coming here as you will want an empty belly to fit in all the delights!

Finally, under the shroud of a spectacular hailstorm, we arrived at the Sončni raj estate just outside of the city. Once the storm passed, we were shown to our Glamping hut (part of the Nesting resort) which was beautiful. Due to the storm we were unable to try the Wine Fountain (the name alone should make you interested!) but Bogdan, the owner, was kind enough to bring us a bottle of wine. It rained during the night which made it wonderfully cosy but was sunny in the morning, allowing us to take full advantage of the terrace. Waking up to a wall of foliage due to the forest opposite was perfect. The cherry on top was the wonderful breakfast brought to us consisting of a platter and picnic basket. There are only a few of these huts so it really does feel like your own personal nature retreat. Bogdan has really created a lovely place at Sončni raj!

Once we finished breakfast we walked a very short distance (maybe 20 metres) to try out ziplining!  What better way to start the day than flying back and forth like a bee? It certainly woke us up faster than the coffee we had an hour earlier! One of us (Euan) normally has an aversion to heights but this kind of experience didn’t trouble him at all. If you happen to be here you should certainly try it!

Overall, our experience over the two days was amazing. We met great people, were introduced to wonderful cuisine and wine, all while soaking in the great city of Maribor. We will definitely return to each of the places we visited in the future. Of course, we also shouldn’t forget the great rock and roll we were treated to while wandering the streets but, naturally, we wouldn’t want to spoil any of those songs for people looking to take the tour!

We would like to thank all those who contributed to those two days and showed us the very best Maribor and its surrounding areas has to offer!

Euan and Katja

Photos by: Euan & Katja

back to the list

SCOUTS: Bart and Benny

2022 FINALIST - Fonda

May 2022

Visit Fonda Fish Farm Portoroz and guided tour in Piran

It has been a real pleasure to participate in the Slovenia’s Hidden Gems programme from Radio SI!
We were able to visit the Fonda Fish Farm in Portoroz in the morning and we enjoyed a guided tour in and around Piran in the afternoon.

Fonda Fish Farm:
With a warm welcome from Irena and with real ‘beach’ weather we started our amazing visit to the fish farm.

Since such a visit is not something that you can experience very often it was necessary to learn more about the background of the fish farm. That intro was more than surprising and opened our eyes for a very different view on the problem of the climate change: the damage to the oceans and seas.

Very interesting to learn that oceans and seas are supplying the most oxygen on our planet!

Needless to say that protection of seas and oceans is a very important topic.

The people in Fonda fish farm are not only there for their ‘commercial’ project but are, on daily base, concerned about the ecological situation in the Piran bay.

With one of their boats, we were able to see the farm on the see. We could see the feeding and learned about all the aspects of caring for the environment, health and growth of the Piran sea bass.

We finished the visit with a nice glass of wine, tasting of great fish carpaccio and olive oil and were able to receive some very interesting, culinary tips…. Which you have to discover yourself during a visit on the farm.

Guided tour Piran:
On the Tartini square in the centre of Piran was waiting for us our guide Mateja.
We were ready for some hidden gems in one of the oldest cities of Slovenia.

The historical overview is, of course, very important to understand the background of the city. And maybe you didn’t know but Piran has its own Romeo and Julia story, included the balcony, right in the corner of the square….😉

That was the start for a nice walk through Piran and visiting some, not so known but nice spots: the Minorite monastery, the St.George’s Parish church, the Jewish quarter etc….

Enough for a relaxing 2 hour-walk that was finished by a well-deserved and fresh drink.

Benny De Kimpe-Bart Hendrickx

Photos by: Bart and Benny

back to the list

SCOUTS: Blas and Rene

2022 FINALIST - Kras

May 2022

”By bike from fort to fort — an expedition into the past” in the Karst

Our trip from Koper started early in the morning. We headed to the Karst region, in southwestern Slovenia, by arriving to Pliskovica, a charming village located in the Municipality of Sežana, first. Even though our way was not supposed to be difficult while driving, but somehow we took a wrong turn close to Divača and got lost. We finally arrived to our accommodation a few minutes late.

We arrived at the Apartma Hiša Pliskovica around 9:00 AM, one of the most charming places to stay in the Karst area where almost every householder makes their own wine. Our host, Veronika, and her playful dog Lumpa were waiting for us. Irena and Ivo, our guides, were there too. However, on this two-day cycling trip we were not alone: Igor, Milan and Mojca from Gorenjska were ready for this adventure and joined us, as well.

We were welcomed with a great breakfast, accompanied with many Karst delicacies which included local goat cheese and milk, even a frtalja with asparagus that Irena had prepared. Everything was delicious and it was a perfect way to start the day.

To begin our cycling expedition, we were given efficient, relatively light weight and well-balanced electric bicycles which we really enjoyed riding for the first time. Our whole adventure took us through some steep hills, but with the e-bikes we managed to cycle quickly without requiring much effort.

Our first stop was the Austro-Hungarian military cemetery located right next to the Dutovlje – Kreplje road, a step away from the village cemetery. It was created between 1915 and 1917. The valley, which is also the border of the cemetery, is fenced with a wall, and the grave fields in it are leveled. In addition to a small number of tomb crosses, a central monument in the shape of a cross has been preserved, under which a tombstone was built. It is believed that more than 3,000 soldiers were buried there.

We continued cycling and a few minutes later, we left our bikes on the side of the road and headed into a forest. We were looking for our first hill fort. To our surprise we found two local people who were there picking asparagus. It is amazing how easy it is for Slovenians to spot them among all kinds of plants! Apparently, it wasn’t the asparagus season yet but some of them were already available to be picked. Of course, the Slovenians who came with us also found some asparagus and gave them to us to try. This was our snack!

Additionally, while walking through the forest, we also learnt about the names of some trees like “črni jesen” and “akacija.”  Surprisingly, Slovenians recognize not only asparagus in the middle of the forest but also all kinds of trees, plants, animals in the nature as well as mountains and villages that can be seen along the valley.

During the first day, we also passed through numerous villages and small towns, as well as innumerable vineyards, waiting to be prepared for the next grape harvest season. There, in that area, one of the most famous Slovenian red wines is produced: Teran, made from a Refošk variety of grape that grows in the red loamy soil in the Karst region. Even more, the ruby-red Teran wine can be perfectly paired with another Karst specialty: The Karst pršut, a truly tasty air-dried ham. These two Karst delicacies really fulfilled our trip to the region. The ones we tried for lunch in Štanjel and for dinner in Nova Vas were truly delightful. And if that wasn’t enough, we ended the day drinking more homemade Teran wine and even a Teran liquor in Zagrajec. After all those doses of Teran in our body and having cycled almost 40 km during the day, we slept peacefully in our accommodation.

Starting the second day of our expedition, a culinary delight similar to the previous day’s was awaiting us – pršut, homemade bread, goat cheese, fresh milk, coffee and a delicious herb frtalja.

Our host at the Apartma Hiša Pliskovica, Veronika, was always super attentive, warm and welcoming. Likewise, our guides Irena and Ivo were always very kind and clear. Whenever we had a question or concern, they managed to sort it out in a very positive and professional way.

Heading towards Volčij Grad, we could enjoy the ride on our electric bikes through a path enclosed by an ancient dry-wall construction until we reached the tiny simple settlement of Kregolišče, which has the modest amount of 15 inhabitants. Near Volčij Grad, we cycled through a quarry named “Java” before hitting the ancient hill fort Debela Griža that contains remains of a mighty fortified ring from the Bronze and Iron Ages.

On our way, we stopped by a couple more hill forts and ran into a dry-walled “pastirska hiška” (shepherd’s hut) which is amazingly built using only stones. A particular hillfort, Brith, captured our attention due to its impressive view pointing towards Zagrajec.

Near Temnica, we visited an ancient sanctuary called Gulak, where people used to balance out their energies using a kind of magnetic force from the stones. They laid the stones in an arrangement of seven rings in such a way that the force becomes more powerful the inner you go. This sanctuary was used to release negative energy and to meditate.

After our spiritual stop, we reached the destination for lunch: Lipa. There, we had a delicious jota, a marvellous rižota with asparagus, fresh bread, flavourful Teran and juicy štruklji. Continuing with our excursion, we climbed up to a hill fort in Škrbina through a path with twelve crosses. The view up there was one of the most astounding views during the trip.

We also visited the towns of Temnica, Škrbina, Sveto, Komen and many others. Reaching our final (and initial) destination, Pliskovica, the team said a warm goodbye.

Overall, we had an amazing two-day expedition in the Karst region. We’re so thankful to our guides and to Radio Si, in particular, to Lidija Petkovič, for setting up this amazing opportunity to really get to know Slovenia’s hidden gems.

Blas Fernández & René Rodríguez

Photos by: Blas, Rene and Igorij Parkel

back to the list