Printing in Slovenia: From Revolutionary Words to the World Travel Market
The Slovenian stand at the 2023 World Travel Market in London featured a captivating relic: a massive vintage mechanical printing press. Accompanying it were shelves laden with traditional printing tools, including lead letters and inks, totaling three tons transported from Ljubljana. Visitors received souvenir travel posters, printed on-site, showcasing Ljubljana's charm. Master printer Marko Drpic shared insights on Slovenia's printing history and offered printmaking workshops for tourists. In Ljubljana's old print shop, visitors can experience manual typesetting and printing, carefully crafting alphabet posters. The Slovenian Tourist Board's focus on Art and Culture for 2024-2025 highlights the country's appeal to travelers seeking authentic experiences, cultural immersion, and artistic creativity. Slovenia promises a year-round cultural journey with its rich heritage and vibrant arts scene.
Jože Plečnik: Slovenia’s Architectural Shining Star
This episode spotlights Jože Plečnik, known as Slovenia's greatest architect and, according to Dr. Noah Charney, the country's foremost artist across all mediums. Despite Plečnik's acclaim among architectural historians, he remains less known than contemporaries like Gaudi and Wright due to his choice to focus on Ljubljana rather than major Modernism hubs. Dr. Charney explores Plečnik's legacy with experts Ana Porok and Peter Krečič, shedding light on the architect's life and work. Plečnik's masterpieces in Ljubljana hold UNESCO recognition, underscoring their cultural and natural heritage significance. For those eager to delve further, the "Master Plečnik" Slovenia Unique Experience offers an immersive tour through UNESCO's Ljubljana, providing unique insights into Plečnik's visionary contributions and unveiling captivating architectural details.
Celebrate the December Holidays in Slovenia
Dr. Noah Charney leads a festive exploration of Slovenia's enchanting Christmas traditions, unveiling the rich tapestry of customs that define the season. Through captivating stories of three gift-bringing bearded men, the episode delves into the heart of Slovenian holiday spirit, providing cultural insights for both familiar and lesser-known figures. Regardless of one's faith, Slovenia emerges as a beautiful, warm, and festive destination for December holidays. Dr. Charney highlights unique aspects and special events in Slovenian towns, where charming places transform into fairy-tale wonderlands with festive market stalls and lit-up streets. Engaging interviews with Sanja Pellis, Dr. Mateja Habinc, and artist Urban Modic, along with insights from Marija Lah from Slovenj Gradec and Dragan Kikovič from Postojna Cave, offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into this year's unique celebrations.
Slovenia's Wine Traditions: From Saint Martin's Day to Orange and Gold Wines
This episode is dedicated to Slovenian wine and Dr. Noah Charney invites us to say "Na zdravje!" (cheers) as we delve into the country's diverse viticulture traditions. Exploring white, red, orange, and gold varieties, each boasting world-class quality, the episode features discussions with prominent figures in the wine world. British wine expert Caroline Gilby of Decanter magazine, renowned wine producer Aleks Simčič from Goriška Brda, Michelin-starred Slovenian chef Tomaž Kavčič and the 2023 Queen of Wine, Maja Pečarič, provide insights into the nuanced art of wine appreciation. For further exploration, the Taste Slovenia portal offers a wealth of information on grape varieties and three distinct wine-growing regions. The episode also extends an invitation to discover St. Martin's Day, Slovenia's premier wine celebration, observed on November 11, where locals come together to honour tradition and taste the harvest season's fruits.
Inside Slovenia’s Role at the Frankfurt Book Fair
In this episode, Dr. Noah Charney reports from the Frankfurt Book Fair, where Slovenia is the guest of honour in 2023. Offering exclusive interviews with Katja Stergar, director of the Slovenian Book Agency, and Miha Kovač, Slovenia's program director for Frankfurt 2023, Dr. Charney provides insider insights into how Slovenia is showcasing its literary output to the world. The Frankfurt Book Fair is a crucial event for Slovenia, strengthening its visibility in the German market through promotional activities. The Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) aligns with this effort, unveiling its main tourism promotional theme for 2024-2025: Art and Culture.
Exploring Responsible Tourism with Virginia DiGaetano, a Lonely Planet Contributor
This time, Dr. Noah Charney explores the significance of responsible travel with special guest Virginia DiGaetano, a seasoned travel writer currently exploring Slovenia for Lonely Planet. Addressing the growing importance of sustainable travel practices, they share valuable tips, anecdotes, and insights from their experiences in the field. The conversation not only offers practical guidance for responsible travel but also reflects their shared passion for mindful exploration. Whether planning an adventure in Slovenia or dreaming of far-flung destinations, this episode serves as a compass, guiding listeners through responsible and mindful exploration, emphasizing the need to preserve the beauty of destinations and our planet.
Hi-Tech Meets an Alpine Jewel: NFTs and the Ultimate Julian Alps Sensory Adventure
Slovenia was the first country to employ NFTs for tourism promotion. In this episode, Dr. Noah Charney explores the use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) in promoting Slovenian tourism. He discusses this innovative approach with key figures including Klemen Langus, Director of Bohinj Tourism, Aljoša Ota, Director of the Representative Office of the Slovenian Tourist Board in Italy, Tadej Slapnik, CEO of Hashnet, and Tanja Bivic Plankar, Chair of Blockchain Alliance Europe. The episode focuses on the Ultimate Julian Alps Sensory Adventure, a three-day event for foreign media representatives, who received exclusive NFTs at WTM London. This event blends advanced technology with tangible experiences to highlight responsible attitudes toward nature and raise awareness about endangered species in the Julian Alps. The episode underscores the connection between nature and humanity and emphasizes the significance of sustainable solutions and responsible travel.
Safely Enjoying Slovenia’s Mountains
Slovenia's inviting mountain ranges, including the Julian Alps, Karawanks, and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, attract both experienced mountaineers and casual hikers. In this episode, Dr. Noah Charney meets Slovenia's mountain rescue professionals, who share valuable tips for safely enjoying the Alps. Key advice includes effective planning, essential gear like hiking boots and first aid supplies, physical and mental preparation, respect for nature, exercise caution for falling rocks and thunderstorms and informing others about your itinerary. Stick to marked trails, as Slovenia boasts a well-maintained network of 10,000 kilometres and explore our special the Safe in the Mountains website on www.slovenia.info for comprehensive information in multiple languages.
Slovenia’s World Class Chef: An Interview with Ana Roš
Ana Roš is a Slovenian chef and restaurateur who gained international recognition for her work at the Hiša Franko restaurant in Kobarid, Slovenia. She was named World's Best Female Chef in 2017 by the World's 50 Best Restaurants, and Hiša Franko was ranked as one of the world's 50 best restaurants. Roš's cuisine is influenced by her Slovenian heritage and the local ingredients of the Soča Valley region where the restaurant is located. She became a household name the world over when she appeared on "Chef's Table" on Netflix. Over the past few years, she has held over 600 interviews, including the latest in the New York Times, in a series “Transforming Spaces” about women driving change in sometimes unexpected places. In this episode, Dr Noah Charney speaks to Ana about her work, as well as chatting with some of her colleagues to learn what makes her so special.
Eating Sustainably in Slovenia and Beyond: The EU Food Summit
We’re all aware of the importance of healthy, sustainable eating. For our bodies and for the planet. But it’s not always easy. The key is to introduce new options that are good for the environment and the individual that lead to long-term habits for consumers of all walks of life. In order to come up with winning solutions, the EU Food Summit was held in Ljubljana, last November. Dealing with themes like reduction of food waste, feeding the undernourished, and producing food that is better for the planet long-term,it brought together international experts. Dr Noah Charney spoke to several international guests to learn what it's all about. Among them were Martin Jezeršek, the CEO of Jezeršek Catering and the co-founder of the EU Food Summit, Dan Saladino, a BBC journalist and writer, Tilen Travnik, the CEO of Juicy Marbles, and Marleen Onwezen, an expert and researcher at Wageningen University.
Slovenia's Good Demons: Kurentovanje in Ptuj
This episode is dedicated to a unique tradition in Slovenia—Kurentovanje. This ancient pagan festival features friendly demons who chase away winter and invite in the spring. Kurents’ door-to-door rounds are one of the best-known carnival traditions in Slovenia. In 2017, UNESCO added door-to-door rounds of Kurents/Korants to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Dr Noah Charney spoke with an experienced photographer and travel writer who follows carnivals around Europe, Rudolf Abraham; Ann Abel, an American travel writer and editor at Forbes, and Uros Cajnko—a local who, every year, dons one of the Kurent costumes.
An Interview with ESPN Basketball Reporter, Tim MacMahon
Anyone who follows NBA basketball news knows Tim MacMahon. He’s among the world’s best-known basketball reporters. Dr Noah Charney caught up with him on the last day of his visit to Slovenia in September. They talked about what he saw during his first trip to Slovenia and about his time covering basketball, Goran Dragic and Luka Doncic. That a reporter of his renown was in Slovenia was big news. Based in Dallas, Texas, Tim is a seasoned sports reporter, having begun his career writing for the Dallas Morning News, where he worked from 2003 until 2009. Then he made the move to ESPN, the American sports media empire that is the very pinnacle for sports news.
HoneyTrek's Mike and Anne Howard on Slovenia and Traveling the World
When Americans Mike and Ann Howard set off on their honeymoon back on January 22 2012, they thought they'd spend a year travelling the globe. 11 years later and counting, they're still on the same honeymoon. They just kept on traveling and doing it the right way. They're focused on sustainable travel, destinations and modes of transport. One of their favourite destinations and one they're eager to return to is Slovenia. They visited it last September and fell in love with it. They traveled around with an electric vehicle and explored the alpine peaks, the Adriatic coast, wine country, historic villages, and the culinary scene. In the podcast, they unveil their favourites in Slovenia and when they first heard about it. They also reveal useful hacks about how to pack for a decade-long journey and what’s the relationship secret of a couple who spend 24 hours a day together, 7 days a week, for more than 600 weeks running.
Foreign Writers Inspired by Slovenia
“Bohinj is too beautiful for murder,” said Agatha Christie, when interviewed by a national TV journalist during a holiday there in 1967. From room 204 of the Hotel Bellevue, Christie and her husband, a famous archaeologist, could see the expanse of the Julian Alps and the crystalline, wild splendor of the lake mirroring pines and peaks. Though Christie found Slovenia too beautiful for a whodunit mystery, many other famous authors set novels here, including Ernest Hemingway, Peter Handke, Paolo Coehlo and even Giacomo Casanova. This episode looks at foreign writers inspired by Slovenia, and includes conversations with two famous writers who live here, Miha Mazzini and Svetlana Slapsak.
Travel Writing about Slovenia: A Conversation with Alex Crevar, the Ambassador of Slovenian Tourism 2022
Dr Noah Charney has been writing about Slovenia for more than a decade, regularly covering it for The Guardian newspaper’s travel section, but also writing about it everywhere from Lonely Planet to National Geographic, from the Washington Post to Atlas Obscura. Writing about Slovenia is particularly rewarding, as it so often feels like your articles open up a hidden doorway for readers with limited or no preconceptions about a country they will inevitably love. His guest in this episode is perhaps the most prominent of all travel writers who write regularly about Slovenia: Alex Crevar. He currently lives in Škofja Loka and was named Ambassador of Slovenian Tourism in 2022. Dr Noah caught up with him on the sun-drenched terrace of Hotel Plesnik in the Logar Valley, while attending the Transformational Travel Council, which is the subject of its own episode.
A Talk With Kate Wagner About Slovenian Cycling Phenomenon
In this episode, over brunch at Ljubljana Castle, Dr Noah Charney interviews American journalist Kate Wagner. Kate has a diversity of interests, but is best known as a cycling journalist. She's covered La Vuelta, the Tour de France and all the biggest races, and has profiled and extensively interviewed Slovenian cyclists, including Primož Roglič and Tadej Pogačar, who are also the ambassadors of Slovenian tourism. They spoke about her love for Slovenia – where she hopes to move, at least for a portion of each year, and dove deep into the triumphs of Slovenian cyclists. One of her latest articles with a meaningful title "Who the Hell Even Are You, Tadej Pogačar?" is a must-read for all who are keen on getting to know him and the Slovenian sports mentality.
Olympic Training for the Mind: A Conversation with Sara Isaković
Sara Isaković is a world-class swimmer from Slovenia. By winning a silver medal in the 200 meter freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she became the second woman in history to swim that race in less than 1 minute and 55 second and the first Slovenian swimmer to win an Olympic medal. After her swimming career, she has focused on developing a mental training program. Today, she coaches top athletes, managers about how mindfulness and mental preparation can maximize one’s potential. In the podcast, she explains why Slovenians are so good at sports, what made her so good, why Janja Garnbret is her favourite Slovenian athlete and which Slovenian dish helps you achieve top results.
On World's Oldest Grapevine and Maribor
In this episode, Dr Noah Charney talks about the world's oldest vine, which is over 450 years old. The Old Vine is considered the jewel in the crown of Maribor, Slovenia’s wine-loving second city located in the north-east of the country. To unveil all the fun facts connected with the Old Vine, he talked with Aleš Jenuš, Maribor City Guide, two renowned Slovenian sommeliers, Nina Bratovž and Jernej Lubej, who organises the Big Guy's Wine Tour, and Michael Manske, an expat to Slovenia, the host of entertaining radio show "How to Become Slovene". Of course, they couldn't go without mentioning also other sightseeing spots worth visiting in Maribor and its surroundings, which is why this episode is a must for all who plan to visit Maribor.
A Bee's Eye View on Slovenia
Welcome to this special episode of Feel Slovenia the Podcast celebrating World Bee Day (May 20), declared in December 2017 by the United Nations — and this was originally a Slovenian initiative. Slovenes have the most beekeepers per capita in the world, and we’ll hear from several of them in today’s episode. The guests include Lucie Grace, a British journalist who visited Slovenia to write a feature on its apiculture traditions. Mateja Reš runs the Garden of Tastes, Dr Peter Kozmus, who is one of Slovenia’s leading beekeepers, and leads the breeding program for the Carniolan Gray Honey Bee as part of the Slovenian Beekeeper’s Association and Gorazd Trušnovec, who was the first urban beekeeper in Slovenia, and now oversees hives at 12 locations on the roofs of buildings in Ljubljana. Let’s take a look at what all the buzz is about!
Easter Traditions in Slovenia
Regardless of your faith, there’s one thing we can all agree on: holidaysbring together family and involve good food. For this special episode of Feel Slovenia the Podcast we’ve focused on the culinary traditions around Easter. Our host, Noah Charney, chatted with five different people to bring you a broad array of thoughts about Easter. This included a pair of curators at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, Nena Židov and Anja Jerin, Janez Bogataj, the leading expert in Slovenian ethnography and culinary heritage, Špela Vodovc, author of the hit cookbook, Cook Eat Slovenia and a tour guide and finally, you’ll get to meet his 80-year-old grandmother-in-law, Mama Tončka. What are the key components of an Easter breakfast and what do they symbolize? What’s the story of one of the most famous Passion plays in Europe? Tune in to find out!
Garden Village Bled: Active Getaway Among the Tree Tops
Ever wanted to eat cream cake in a treehouse? Who hasn't, right? In the this episode, expat writer Dr Noah Charney set off into the trees to visit Garden Village Bled, an eco-friendly resort that recalled his childhood fantasies. Then it was time for a bite to eat. Noah already knew about Bled's famous cream cake, so he was curious about what other local specialties there were to try. Turns out there are many... A visit to Garden Village Bled is a journey back to nature. It's an experience that will make you no longer want to sleep in a hotel room. This is a green story about wellness in a miniature landscape park in the direct vicinity of the famous Lake Bled, where you can connect with nature, with yourself, and with your loved ones. If you are curious to find out more about Bled cream cake, read more here.
How To Taste Olive Oil: A Visit to the Lisjak Olive Mill
On Slovenia’s Adriatic coast, near Koper, stands an olive oil farm run by the Lisjak family, who produce some of the best olive oil in the country if not in the world. Dr Noah Charney visited them for an olive oil tasting and was particularly intrigued by their single source indigenous varietals the sort of product that is not only best here, but which can only grow here. He spoke with Matej Lisjak, who runs the family business, as well as Petra, a representative from the prestigious Kempinski Palace Hotel in Portoroz. Together they offer a unique experience involving olive oil, truffles and plenty of one-on-one time with Matej himself. What are some tasting tips for olive oil? And what does olive oil made in the northernmost part of the olive producing belt of Europe taste like? Join us to find out this and a whole lot more!
The story of the best farmed fish in the world
This time, Feel Slovenia the Podcast takes a trip to the seashore. Dr Noah Charney speaks to Irena Fonda of Fonda Fish Farm, one of the world's best, specializing in sea bass. Fonda Fish Farm is also one of the providers that hold the Slovenia Unique Experience label, which guarantees that you will experience Slovenia’s originality in an unforgettable way and with all of your senses. What's the secret of their success that makes their farmed sea bass nearly indistinguishable from line-caught bass? What tips can we learn from an expert on how to shop at the fish market? Learn all this and more in this virtual trip to the Adriatic Sea.
Slovenian Skiing Success with Ilka Stuhec
Though Slovenia has a small population, it has enjoyed a great deal of success in world sport at the highest level. Ilka Štuhec is one of the many successful athletes who inspire both the Slovenian and international public. Many people wonder what it is about Slovenia that makes it one of the most successful countries in the world in terms of sporting achievements per capita. One of the reasons is definitely the wide range of outdoor activities available throughout the seasons. Since it is nestled in the Alps, it is no surprise that skiing, in a variety of disciplines, is among Slovenia’s best sports. In this episode, Dr Noah Charney spoke to world-renowned downhill ace Ilka Stuhec about her career, her hometown of Maribor and the best foods to eat prior to a World Cup championship.
The Expat’s View of “the World’s Best Country”
In the first episode of Feel Slovenia the podcast, Dr Noah Charney, an expat to Slovenia and a world-renowned author, who is also the host of the podcast, describes how he came to live in Slovenia, after having “auditioned” numerous other countries, and why he thinks so highly of it, as a place to visit or move to full-time. In the process, he spoke to many fellow expats from a diverse array of countries to learn why they love life on the sunny side of the Alps. In each following episode of Feel Slovenia the podcast, he will explore what he has called “the world’s best country:” meeting locals, traveling, eating and getting to know the very best of Slovenia. Where should you go when visiting Slovenia? What should you be sure to do, see, eat and experience? Join us for the ultimate insider’s guide to the country.