Name Day tradition in Slovenia

In Slovenia, the Name Day - "god" in Slovenian, is still way more important to a lot of people than their birthday - and that's what they celebrate every year. Just last night Nežka was telling me about the Name Day tradition in the village near Domžale, where she comes from.

In my early years, the traditional celebrations haven't been a significant part of my life - although I lived in a small village with around 600 residents, scattered around pretty large area. But my mom was a teacher and my dad was a journalist and they both worked all days. Therefore, when other kids spent their out-of-school time on the fields, pastures and woods or in the barns, I was with either of my grandmothers - pretty far away - or on the beach.

A few minutes ago I came across a post on FaceBook, saying that today is "god" - the Name Day of all whose name is "Jože, Jožica, Joci, Pepi, Pepca..."

I can easily imagine that tonight is about to be a party night for a lot of Slovenians because these are all very common names and "veselice" will happen in private homes and public places.

Let's join in the party with this lively polka "Ljubim Jožico" (I Love Jožica) performed by one of my favorite Slovenian bands, Donačka.

"Lepo praznujte" (happy celebration)! :)


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Idrija Slovenia - 2011 Alpine Town

Žlikrofi, Slovenian national food from town Idrija

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Idrija Becomes Alpine Town of 2011
09.02.2011

Idrija - The oldest Slovenian mining town, Idrija, which is situated in the Alpine foothills, assumed the title of the Alpine Town of 2011, becoming the 14th town from the eight Alpine countries to receive the title since its induction in 1995. The title is conferred by an association of Alpine countries on towns committed to the implementation of the Alpine Convention. The convention, which entered into force in March 1995, promotes sustainable development of the Alpine region.



This year Idrija therefore plans to carry out projects which will focus on the protection of soil and forest, efficient functioning of sewage plants and the production of environmental-friendly energy.



Idrija Mayor Bojan Sever told the press before the ceremony that cooperation within the network of Alpine towns opened concrete business opportunities for Idrija. "The title is also an excellent opportunity for the promotion of Idrija internationally," he said.



Sever also believes that the title would enable Idrija to draw on the experiences of the towns which have already held the title, and create a legacy for the successors. "We are involved in a project of becoming a low-carbon municipality and we will be carrying out several projects to meet the expectations of the EU and the Alpine Convention," he pointed out.



Sever received the title from the president of the Alpine Town of the Year Association Hubert Buhl and received a gift from Otto Marl, the mayor of Austria's Bad Aussee, the Alpine Town of 2010. The ceremony was also addressed by Environment and Spatial Planning Minister Roko Zarnic.



The first Slovenian town to assume the title was Maribor in 2000.



The idea to make the Alps the centrepiece of a town was born in Villach, Austria in 1995. The next year the Alpine Town of the Year Association was founded. Initially, it promoted cultural events, but now it stands for the implementation of the Alpine Convention.



Idrija, which is best known for its closed mercury mine, which was one of the biggest in the world, is visited by some 50,000 people every year.

Source: Republic of Slovenia - Government Communication Office

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This copper engraving from 1689 by Janez Vajkard Valvasor shows the mercury mine in Idrija in Slovenia

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Escudo - Idrija, Mercurio: Coat of arms of Municipality Idrija

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Postcard of Idrija from 1898

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Divje jezero (Wild Lake), a Karst spring near Idrija, Slovenia

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Gerwerkenegg castle in Idrija, Slovenia

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Kendov dvorec, 5-star hotel in Slovenia (Spodnja Idrija)

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Slovenian language

Image via WikipediaI always knew Slovenian language was more difficult to learn than most other foreign languages. Throughout the years of using and understanding English better and better I realized many times over that there are some terms in Slovenian that cannot be properly translated into English (and the other way around, of course). However, hearing about Slovenian language from an English native speaker's perspective was an extra eye-opener. If you can speak/understand bot languages, English and Slovenian, the article below will be a real treat to you.
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General remark: When reading Slovenian words on maps or in books, you will find special characters, pronounced ch, sh, and zh. They are written with c, s and z with a caron - little v above them - like č, š and ž.


Source of the article below: The Slovenia Times

Photo above: Ljubljana skyline at the sunset from Ljubljana Castle

The Mother Hen and Me
Slovenian

07.12.2007

By Victor Irving

Slovenian is one of the most complicated languages on earth.

Take this joke from students who were struggling with the language:

- Let’s order two coffee.

- All right, coffee is kava en two is dva, so dva kava?

- No, it’s dva kavo – 4th case because it’s the object of the sentence: (I’d like) dva kavo.

- But hey, adjective and noun should match, so shouldn’t it be: dvo kavo?

- Not really, because with two it’s an exception: dve kavo

- All right, the dualism…

- Oh yeah, two has a separate ending! Ena kava, dve kavi, tri kave.

- So it should be Dve kavi, prosim,

- Don’t forget it’s still the 4th case.

- Same as the 1st for dual, female gender words.

- But I’d like my coffee with whipped cream: z smetan.

- That’s the instrumental case. Z smetano.

- No, I think it’s s smetano because of the pronunciation.

- Screw this: ‘Two beer please.’

Another situation: Guys sees a girl walk by and wants to invite her for a coffee.

He is about to say: Zdravo! Gremo na kava?

Then he remembers: Oh wait, we’re going somewhere, so fourth case: gremo na kavo. No wait, with ‘gremo’ she’ll think it’s for three or more persons, so: greva na kavo? Then he realises it’s more polite to ask if she would like to go: Bi rad da greva na kavo? But since he’s talking to a girl he has to say: Bi rada da greva na kavo?

- Zdravo! Bi ra…

The girl has passed by a minute ago.

Even more interesting is the way Slovenian bends city-names. The city is called Ljubljana, but you are from Ljubljane. The a changes into an e, however, if a city-name does not end with an a you add one. For instance, I am from Amsterdama. But if you go to the city, it becomes Ljubljano. And if you say you live there, you say in Ljubljani, or in case there is no a to change into an i, you say you live in Londonu. The same with names: You are at Victorju (Victor’s), the belch came out of Victorja and you’re crying about an impossible grammatical system with Victorjem and you know about Victorjevega mačka and haven’t understood Victorjevega teksta.

Let’s take a moment now to fully appreciate that six cases, three genders and singular, dual and plural endings lead to 54 options, and with adjectives that may differ from nouns, about 108 options. For newcomers, creating a sentence may take some time.

Most interesting, however, is that there are a few words that are the same in every case. Roza (pink) never changes, and neither does a name like Karen. Great. How about something similar for all words in Slovenian? People may still be able to understand each other; in English or Dutch coffee is coffee whether you drink it, see it, don’t have it, order it or throw with it. Moreover, these days national identity is no longer dependant on a language’s complexity. Slovenia is a real country, so the language can develop as all other languages: get easier. Maybe then foreigners can devote some brain capacity to what they want to say instead of how they have to say it.


Victor Irving lives in Ljubljani and is desperately trying to learn Slovensko.

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Lake Bled, Slovenia

Image via WikipediaI like to hear what other people have to say about beautiful places in Slovenia. I've visited and experienced them countless times and know very well how breathtakingly beautiful some of them are. And that's why articles like the one below make me smile and I like sharing them with you.

Lake Bled in Gorenjska region is one of those places that has been an inspiration to many for centuries - and it never gets old. People from around the world keep visiting Bled for the first time and others keep returning every time they go to Slovenia.

Lake Bled, Slovenia
by Linda Lyon - Jan. 12, 2011 05:20 PM
Special for The Republic 

My husband, Jack, and I lived in Germany for 20 years, and we decided it was time for a repeat trip to the former Yugoslavia.

The Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia was a vacation destination for Germans in the 1970s and '80s. We first visited there in the summer of 1982. It was beautiful, inexpensive and filled with tourists.

The Bosnian wars of the 1990s changed this area forever, and we wanted to see the changes firsthand. We flew to Frankfurt, Germany, then headed south over the Alps of Austria and on to Bled, a picturesque village of 5,000 on the banks of Lake Bled.


Bled is now in Slovenia, about an hour's drive from Ljubljana, the capital of this small country. Its proximity to Germany and Austria makes it a hot spot for tourists now that things have settled down.

Lake Bled is small compared with other lakes in the area. No motor boats are allowed, and the mode of transportation is a wooden barge called a pletna. It's operated by one person who propels it with an oar, much like gondoliers in Venice.

The main attraction of Lake Bled is the small island in the center that contains the Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church, where it is said that one can bring good luck by climbing the 99 steps and ringing the bell. A tradition at weddings is for the husband to carry his new bride up these steps. The bride must remain silent the entire time. Imagine that!

A delicacy of this area is the cremeschnitte, or cream cake, a layered vanilla-and-custard dessert. A piece of this treat truly seals one's love for this little town.

Overlooking Lake Bled is Bled Castle, one of the oldest in Slovenia, dating to 1004. We hiked up the hill paths to the courtyard, where we had a breathtaking view of the lake and surrounding hills. Josip Broz Tito, the former head of Yugoslavia, had a home on this lake; the home is now a hotel called Vila Bled. After a wonderful dinner in the castle, we finished our journey around the lake.

The Slovenian people are friendly and welcoming. There are many lovely hotels and guesthouses, and the local food is delicious. Fortunately, Slovenia fared well after the wars and is on the road to becoming a tourist destination again.

There's a lot more about lake Bled at this page (click on the link below) I put together a while ago:
Bled and Lake Bled Slovenia

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Ljubljana, Slovenia

Image via WikipediaToday I found this interesting article, written by an American, visiting Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana.
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The Hidden Gems of This Capital City
Published August 26, 2010 by:
Cleo Louise
Source
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"Ne razumem! Ne razumem!" ("I don't understand!") is undoubtedly a valuable phrase to memorize when conversing with people in Slovenia. Luckily, the majority of citizens in Ljubljana spoke English fluently (with a thick Slovenian accent) and communication wasn't a problem at all.
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"Hvala" is "Thank You" in the Slovene language and, in my opinion, is a word which is imperative to know when traveling throughout Slovenia. I know waiters appreciate it when you give your best effort at saying a word in their language, even if it's dreadfully mispronounced. They will always smile.
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To conclude this post on the picturesque city of Ljubljana, Slovenia, I want to discuss the differences between what "hanging out" means in America, and what "hanging out" seems to mean in Ljubljana.
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Where I come from, the only way to spend time with my friends is to hop in my black car and drive at least ten minutes to a location where we all meet up. Perhaps we go bowling, see a movie, or spend time relaxing at each other's houses.
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In Slovenia, one simply doesn't need a car to have an active social life. Youth walk around the town square of Ljubljana and maybe sit a cafe for an hour or two before wandering down the paths by the river. To me, that difference speaks volumes about our two cultures.
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Slovenian mount Raduha

Image via Wikipedia: Hut on Grohot meadow under mt. Raduha

Tadej Štalekar from Mislinjska Dobrava in Slovenia was kind enough to let me use his photos from his recent Alpine-climbing trip to Kamnik-Savinja Alps in municipality Luče.

Mount Raduha (6765 ft / 2062 m) is a peak that offers magnificent views all around. Its SE slopes are covered with spruce forests and meadows to approximately 1600 meters above sea level. Above that there are only grassy slopes and pinetrees. On almost all meadows from both sides you can still see animals grazing on pastures.

The other - NW - side of mount Raduha is a cold and dark rocky wall. Recommended for climbers with at least some experiences.

And if you're not into Alpine climbing in Slovenian Alps, take a trip there via this video below. No mountain shoes and backpack needed! :)

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Slovenia independence

Image above: President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose for a photo during a reception at the Metropolitan Museum in New York with Slovenian president Danilo Türk and his wife Barbara Miklič Türk - via Wikipedia

June 25, 2010 marked 19th anniversary of Slovenia's independence. 76 Slovenians died during the ten-day independence war. That's how Slovenians first won their statehood "on the battlefield", which enabled them to quickly also become "successful behind the negotiating table."

Slovenian president Danilo Türk described dialogue as the core of all strategic development challenges of our time as he addressed the main state ceremony marking the 25 June National Day in Ljubljana on Thursday. 

According to Türk, social dialogue is needed more today than ever before. "Slamming doors and threats are not a way forward," the president said on the eve of National Day, which marks the day when Slovenia declared independence in 1991. (Source)

Video above: "Slovenska himna" (Slovenian anthem)

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Slovenian soccer fairytale continues

Image via Wikipedia

"Slovenian soccer fairytale continues," were the words of American reporter on ABC TV channel - after Slovenia won their first game at the FIFA world championship in South Africa.

Midfielder Robert Koren's late goal 'handed Slovenia their first-ever FIFA World Cup victory as well as the top spot in Group C as they beat 10-man Algeria 1-0 in Polokwane.'


Slovenia is the smallest nation ever - in the history of soccer world cup - to qualify for the world championship twice in a row - back to back.

Robert Koren's 79th-minute goal handed Slovenia a 1-0 win over 10-man Algeria on Sunday in Polokwane for their first-ever FIFA World Cup™ victory. Following the US and England's 1-1 draw the night before in Rustenburg, the Slovenians jumped to the top of Group C at a boisterous Peter Mokaba Stadium, which also witnessed second-half substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal sent off after just 15 minutes on the pitch.

In the end, the extra man did not do much for Slovenia, but Budweiser Man of the Match Koren hit his shot well from the edge of the area. Chaouchi seemed to be well-placed to save the shot, but to the shock of the colourful supporters from Algeria, the ball bulged the back of the net.

Slovenia next meet USA in Johannesburg's Ellis Park on 18 June, while Algeria will try to rebound against group favourites England the same day in Cape Town.

Source:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=249722/match=300061465/summary.html

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National flower of Slovenia

As my birthday gift (a gift from me to you on my birthday) I'm sharing with you this beautiful picture of carnation, the national flower of Slovenia. I took the photo in my front yard and since the bloom is so bright red, it took me quite a few shots before I got the color right.

Photo above: Red carnation, Slovenian national flower

Many of you are probably familiar with the fact that Slovenia is the only country with the word "love" in its name: SLOVENIA. What is new to me is that the Latin name of Slovenian national flower "Dianthus" also roughly translates to "flower of love" or "flower of gods." Does that sound like a match, made in heaven - or what?? ;)

Photo A Pink Carnation and More - courtesy of Michael's Photos!

Throughout the centuries, carnation flowers have been appreciated because they are delicate, durable and delightful - all in one. In the early 20th century, in U.S. carnations became the official flowers of Mother's Day while, as far back as I can remember, in Slovenia (even in days of late Yugoslavia), red carnation was an official flower of International Women's Day (March 8).

Photo Carnation - courtesy of suz kosh

Another thing that I know for a fact (without doing any research and looking for sources) is that in the history of Slovenians, carnation carried and important symbolic message. In traditional arts and crafts carnations have been stitched, carved, painted, drawn and designed in numerous other ways, over and over and over again. Now that I know all these new facts about this precious flower, I know already that sometime soon I'll make another webpage, devoted to the national flower of Slovenia, carnation - Dianthus caryophyllus.

Photo Carnation Station - courtesy of Madonovan

And if You like flowers, take a peak of what's blooming around my house right now. Click on the link below, it opens a new window:
My birthday flower bouquet

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Slovenia Facts

This interesting article about Slovenia facts appeared on Oregon Live website a few days ago and I decided to post it here for you to enjoy it, too.

Thursday's Edge: Everything you ever wanted to know about Slovenia

By The Oregonian

March 25, 2010, 4:30AM

Happy Mother's Day to all of our readers in Slovenia! 

Yep, you can look it up, today is the big day for all the moms in one of our favorite Central European countries. 

View full size

If you were in Slovenia, this looks like a nice place to spend Mother's Day, with or without dear old mom.

What, you say you don't know jack about Slovenia? Well, read up, my little Edgesters. 

Fun (well...) facts about Slovenia 

 

Slovenia is located in the eastern Alps and borders the Adriatic Sea between Austria and Croatia. 

The capital and largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana. 

Slovenia is slightly smaller than New Jersey and has a population of 2.06 million. 

 The highest point of Slovenia is the 9,396-foot Mount Triglav; the lowest point is the Adriatic Sea at sea level. 

The majority of the population speaks Slovene, which is also the country's official language. Other local protected official languages are Hungarian and Italian. 

 

Facts about moms in Slovenia 

 

Among 19,554 mothers who gave birth in 2007: 1.5 percent were teenagers; over 47 percent were at least 30 years old; 2.2 percent were 40 or more, 19 had their eighth child or more; and 15 gave birth at home. About 70 percent of women over age 14 have given birth at least once. 

 

Jokes about Slovenia 

 

If you open an umbrella in the streets of Ljubljana, be careful not to hurt somebody's eye in Maribor. 

Q: Why is it forbidden to jump into swimming pools in Slovenia ? 

A: Because Italians would complain about water splashing. 

But this is no joke 

 

According to the CIA Factbook, Slovenia is a model of economic success and stability for the region. With the highest per capita GDP in Central Europe, Slovenia has excellent infrastructure, a well-educated work force, and a strategic location between the Balkans and Western Europe. 

So there! 

Majolika - Majol'ka, Maiolica - Majolica

Photo above: Slovenian Majolka (Maiolica)

Source: nms.si

I went to the dictionary.com to get some help with explaining of this word:

• ma⋅jol⋅i⋅ca

    [muh-jol-i-kuh, muh-yol-]

• ma⋅iol⋅i⋅ca

    [muh-yol-i-kuh]

Noun:

1. Italian earthenware covered with an opaque glaze of tin oxide and usually highly decorated.
2. any earthenware having an opaque glaze of tin oxide.

"maiolica." Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper, Historian. 15 Feb. 2010. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/maiolica>.

Photo above: Slovenian majolika (Majolica)

Source: umetnostna-obrt.com

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In Slovenia, "majolika" or "majol'ka" means traditional, specially designed earthenware jug with handle, used for wine. It was usually richly decorated (mostly hand-painted, sometimes with ornaments).

Among Slovenian population majolika was so popular that it was called "Krainische Krug" throughout Germanic speaking areas.

Photo above: Slovenian majolka (Maiolica)

Source: umetnostna-obrt.com

Majol'ka got its name after the Italian glazed pottery technique from the island of Majorca.

Photo above: Slovenian majol'ka (Majolica)

Source: booking.si

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Happy Valentine's Day

It takes more then lace and ribbons
And lovely verses too,
To make a Valentine
Thats nice enough for you
It takes a world of special thoughts
Tucked into every line
And that's exactly what you'll find
Inside this Valentine.
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Photo above: "Gingerbread hearts piled-up" (lectovi srčki na kupu) - courtesy of http://www.slovenian-alps.com
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These are the kind of hearts (see photo above) that men and boys in Slovenia traditionally gave to their Valentines - sweethearts  - throughout the year.

They are made of gingerbread, richly decorated and usually carry a meaningful message on a piece of paper, attached in the middle.

In the past these "lectova srca" (gingerbread hearts) were mostly available at the fairs on holidays and they were hand made by craftsmen making bee/honey/bees-wax related products. This craft has a long tradition in Slovenia. It is called "medičarstvo."

And - in case you're wondering, when received from the right person, these gingerbreads weren't eaten but saved and cherished for years... :)

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Polka music future continued

Response to Polka music future post - by Walt Harfmann

Daria,

This past summer we went to Slovenia, Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic, as you know.

We were stunned, in Austria, Slovenia, and also southern Germany, at how many young people are very interested in Folk music, or as in Austria & Germany, Volksmusik.

From our last visit in 2001, to this trip, 2009, We would have to say that there is at least a ten-fold increase in the interest of Buttonbox music, Folk music, and Polka music in general, however, true European style.

There are even studios, that teach buttonbox accordion that are new on the map since 2001. One we visited, teaches 400 students a week, in Austria, and they have 8 more studios around Europe.

The crowds at the festivals proved to us that this isn't going away in Europe, but increasing by big numbers.

It is very refreshing to see young people in parts of this world who are deeply interested in their heritage and customs.

Not everyone in this world is only interested in Rap, or being what you are not!

To us, this was re-assuring to know that our heritage, music, and customs, will survive in part of the world. If only some of our young people in America would take an interest, instead of poking fun at their heritage.

We realize, that at this time in our culture(America), their have been many mixed backgrounds to form the current generation, but there are also many close to one, two, or three heritage background people of the current generation, who also don't know about, or even care about, their heritage.

With this attitude, America will become an even more "Lost" bunch of people. Probably why we have so many problems here at home.

Walt Harfmann
Vice-President
S.N.P.J. 778
Spring Hill, Florida

Arboretum Volčji Potok, Slovenia

Everyone who has ever been to any of SNPJ Lodge 778 in Spring Hill event, gets to meet Nežka, our always kind and busy bar queen.

A little while ago I sent her an email with Powerpoint presentation attached. Unfortunately she couldn't open it to see some stunning photos, taken in beautiful botanical gardens "Arboretum Volčji Potok" in Slovenia.

Ben, John and Nežka in the bar

Yesterday at the picnic, Nežka told me that back in Slovenia - she lived only a few minute drive away from Volčji Potok - and that she would really enjoy seeing the pictures from there.

So I decided to do something special for Nežka - and share this photo slide with everyone else at the same time.

If you've ever visited Arboretum Volčji Potok, these images might bring back some nice memories. And if you've never been there, after seeing this, you might decide to include a stop at this botanical wonder in your itinerary next time you visit The Land on the sunny Side of Alps... :)

Click "play" button and enjoy!

Arboretum Volčji Potok

View more presentations from sunflower19020.

Credits: Foto Cejko - Danilo



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Flying School Bus - Humpback Whale Breach

Flying School Bus - Humpback Whale Breach
Originally uploaded by mikegrace78

On Valentine's Day (February 14, 2009) a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) visited Slovenian sea. It was first spotted near Koper by a diver who followed the whale on his boat - all the way to Izola.

These giants usually live in large seas and they rarely wander into Adriatic. The last time one has been seen in this part of the Mediterranean Sea - was 6 years ago, near Piran.

"The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a Baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (40–50 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the water. Males produce a complex whale song, which lasts for 10 to 20 minutes and is repeated for hours at a time. The purpose of the song is not yet clear, although it appears to have a role in mating.

Found in oceans and seas around the world, humpback whales typically migrate up to 25,000 kilometres each year. Humpbacks feed only in summer, in polar waters, and migrate to tropical or sub-tropical waters to breed and give birth in the winter. During the winter, humpbacks fast and live off their fat reserves. The species' diet consists mostly of krill and small fish. Humpbacks have a diverse repertoire of feeding methods, including the bubble net feeding technique.

Like other large whales, the humpback was and is a target for the whaling industry. Due to over-hunting, its population fell by an estimated 90% before a whaling moratorium was introduced in 1966. Stocks of the species have since partially recovered; however, entanglement in fishing gear, collisions with ships, and noise pollution also remain concerns. There are at least 80,000 humpback whales worldwide. Once hunted to the brink of extinction, humpbacks are now sought out by whale-watchers, particularly off parts of Australia and the United States." (from Wikipedia)

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Pronounce Ljubljana

Photo "Ljubljana: Sunset at Dragon Bridge" - courtesy of Lucio José Martínez González

A question awaiting for me this morning in the comment section of this blog made me realize that there must be a lot of people out there, wondering how to pronounce "Ljubljana."

Especially for a native English speaker, the name of the capital of Slovenia must represent quite a challenge. Some theories about the origin of the name are explained at How Ljubljana got its name.

However, the most popular belief among Slovenians seems to be that
"Ljubljana" originates from Slovenian word
"Ljubljena"  which means "beloved."

Let me let you in on a little secret. "Ljubljana" is even hard word to say correctly for Slovenians, so in everyday conversations it mostly comes out as "lublana" (with Js dismissed).

Spanish and Italians shortened "Ljubljana" into "Lubiana" and in the past, Germanic speaking people called "Ljubljana" - "Laibach". The settlement in the area of today's Slovenian capital, built by Romans was called "Emona" and burnt down by Huns in the 5th century A.D.
 



Photo "Ljubljanica river, Ljubljana" courtesy of majamarko
Oh, and I still owe you the final explanation about how to pronounce "Ljubljana":


Pronunciation Ljubljana:

[lyoo-BLYAH-nah]


Does it still seem hard?

Then choose the way of pronunciation that you find easier from examples above. You'll probably make the locals smile - but they will not resent you for mispronouncing the name of their beloved... :)


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Postcard View of Ljubljana, the Capital of Slovenia

There's one really awsome webpage out there about Ljubljana, about it's history, how Ljubljana got its (hard to pronounce) name, about Ljubljana Dragon, how were Argonauts and Jason from Greek mithology involved and what this small capital with less than 300,000 inhabitants (and more than 50,000 college students!) has to offer to a visitor and townsfolk - and more.

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Most Famous Tune about Slovenia

Many people think that this should be Slovenian national anthem...

Slavko Avsenik - Slovenija, od kod lepote tvoje (1999)...



...and an older video of the same song, made in Bled in 1970:

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Tale of Slovenians and Slovenia

In those early days of Earth and nations, God gave every nation a piece of land. When the work was all done, a small group of people (they called themselves Slovenians) appeared in front of Omnipotent to claim their own place under the sun.

There was nothing left to give but the tiny and most beautiful space on the blue planet, between the Alps and Adriatic Sea, which God kept for himself.

That's how Slovenians got "The Greenest Country in Europe" on "The Sunny Side of Alps" - Slovenia, God's own piece of heaven. Oh, and the only country with 'love' in its name...

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Slovenia - National Anthem

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