On 7 April, students of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian and members of the Association of Slovenians “Triglav” went to an excursion to Dolenjska and Bela krajina. We spent three beautiful days in Novo mesto and its vicinity.
Excursion was intended to elementary school pupils, high school students and adults. As early as on the first day, right after lunch, the pupils went to their peers from Elementary School Grm, and students to their peers from Gimnazija Novo mesto. A visit to Matjaž’s household was organised for adults. We visited wine cabins and tasted a true cviček, while we also learned how they make it.
On Wednesday, 8 April, adults and children visited Bela krajina. We were guided by Mrs. Milena Pavlovič. In Elementary School Podzemelj a pleasant welcome was prepared for us while we were greeted by school principal Stane Vlašič and former principal, a renown humourist Toni Gašperič. Pupils of Elementary School Podzemelj sang several songs for us whereas our students of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian prepared a programme themselves. Both children and adults recited Župančič’s poems.
We continued towards Krajina park Kolpa, where we were welcomed with bread of Bela krajina. They showed us wool items, processed flax and coloured eggs of Bela krajina. We ourselves tried colouring eggs. In Metlika we visited a museum and in addition to the visit to collection with a guide we also saw a movie “Images of Bela Krajina”. It was already time for lunch. In the vicinity of three Pilgrimage churches in Rosilnice there is a Home of good bread. Host Mojca waited for us with bread of Bela krajina and tasteful lunch. Following the lunch we all made own loaves of bread. They were baked in a bread oven and each person took one home. Before that, Mojca made bread of Bela krajina and discovered to us what we needed to have in mind while preparing it. We even got a recipe. She showed us a movie about baking bread in the past and nowadays. And what about a dessert? She surprised us with a big book-shaped cake. She wrote thereon: This book contains recordings of beautiful memories and moments you spend together. Full of impressions we headed towards Novo mesto, and on the way there we stopped at a 20-meter long slide. Not only children but also the adults enjoyed going down the slide.
On Thursday, 9 April, children went to school with their peers while adults toured Novo mesto, library of Novo mesto and new exhibition 650 years of Novo mesto, opened in the museum on the occasion of this important anniversary. Our visit to Dolenjska and Bela krajina already finished on Thursday. We saw and experienced many things; that is why we would like to thank to all those who prepared such a good programme and took care that everything went according to the plan. Mrs. Branka Bukovec and all her collaborators from the association for the Development of Voluntary Work Novo mesto know what Dolenjska hides and what they can show to adults and children. Several times did we visit that part of Slovenia but they always show us something new and make sure that we have a good time.
Barbara Hanuš
