Every year, pupils and students of supply teaching lessons of Slovenian and members of the Association of Slovenian Triglav Banjaluka are eager to see where the spring excursion will take them. This year we went to Štajerska. We had three days for the visit.
On Sunday, 9 April, having crossed the Slovenian border we stopped at brewery Haler in Podčetrtek. They showed us how they preserve beer and prepared lunch for us. Programme of the visit in Podčetrtek was prepared by Darko Hederih, who organises talent camps there. He was assisted by his colleague Ana, and therefore we split into two groups. Pupils and students very much liked the zoo, as well as deer reef, chocolate house and monastery. The adults spent more time on sightseeing Minorite monastery and third oldest pharmacy in Europe. They were all amazed by the beauties of the place and the fortress.
Later in the afternoon we continued our journey to Maribor. Pupils and students went to their peers, and sightseeing programme for adults was prepared by MA Dušan Tomažič, a TV journalist, historian and geographer with vast knowledge and with open doors to many places which allowed us to see many things which remain hidden to tourists. We were accompanied also by author and dramatist Tone Partljič, who opened the door of Maribor theatre for us and told us many interesting facts by the old vine about Lent, rafters, the Drava River and bridges of Maribor. The stories about the city told by those who grew up there knowing its each stone is what the audience most appreciate.
On Monday, we went for a walk in the city park and visited three ponds. In the morning we stayed in the city centre and in the afternoon in the countryside – having visited the Regional Centre of RTV SLO we went to Pohorje, and we also visited Botanical Garden in Pivola. Visit to the city, its traces and famous buildings continued on Tuesday, we visited the synagogue and stopped at the oldest vine in the world. We had excellent lunch in the Educational Centre Piramida and we were also amazed at how the school was orderly. After lunch we visited Aquarium and it was already time to leave. We will think long about everything we experienced here. Maribor surprised us with its cleanness and size as well as how pleasant people there were. In the Students' Dormitory where we stayed everyone was very hospitable and manager Ksenija Jaušovec came to see us off.
Excursions always leave traces and impressions depend on people who help us see the city. Therefore, thank you to Dušan, Tone, Darko and all others who unveiled the beauties of that part of Slovenia to us.
Barbara Hanuš
