http://www.walesonline.co.uk/travel/travel-news/2008/11/02/small-and-beautiful-that-s-slovenia-91466-22164981/

Not many people know much about Slovenia, but it is a tiny diamond and well worth the trip to find out more, says DAVE ROBSON ...

SO how much do you know about Slovenia? No, me neither. I’d heard of its capital Ljubljana, although spelling it proved a challenge, but other than that – let’s say it wouldn’t be my specialist subject on Mastermind. So when the chance of a week at a Keycamp holiday home in Ljubljana offered itself, it had to be taken.

We flew into Trieste in north-east Italy – much cheaper than jetting into Ljubljana airport and only 60km or so away from our destination. But if you hire a car, make sure it has a green sticker on the windscreen – a ‘vignette’ no less – because it’s compulsory and lets you zip through toll booths without stopping.

On arrival at our “Ljubljana Resort” campsite, with its brilliant pool complex next door, we quickly settled into our comfy, well-equipped and spotless mobile home. Then it was off into the capital city where, within an hour, it was pouring down and we were ensconced in an Irish bar, watching football on TV. That night, it rained so heavily, the French youths in tents at the other end of the site moved en masse to shelter in the shower block next to our chalet. It was like trying to sleep next to a foreign exchange students’ party.

No matter – next day, the sun was shining and we set off for the picturesque jewel in Slovenia’s crown, Lake Bled. Ask someone to draw a magic church in the middle of a pretty lake and they’d come up with something like this. It takes a while to walk around it all, but it must be one of the best Sunday afternoon strolls on earth. Even the kids seemed entranced by it. I was confident, for example, that son Alex, ten, had fallen under Bled’s spell. Then he said: “What would you do if a donkey jumped out of that bush?” It was a bit of a let down. I guess his scenery appreciation skills need some work. But it was a magical place and offered a real highlight of our Slovenian stay.

Forty-five minutes up the road – and bear in mind we were there in August – is the winter sports hotspot of Kranjska Gora and the ski jump mecca of Planica. Yes, winter is the key word here. Mrs R’s Scandinavian roots meant this was a must-see, especially as Norwegian Bjorn Einar Romeren set a new ski jump world record in Planica, leaping 239 metres.

Slovenia’s so small, you can cover lots by car and even pop abroad – we had days in Trieste in Italy and Porec and Rovinj in Croatia – both lovely, if touristy seaside towns. And with Ljubljana centre 10 minutes from our campsite – which would have benefited from an on-site supermarket – we often popped down town. It was a really lovely place.

One night, we were even entertained by perky singer Manca Spik, before Slovenia ’s returning Olympic medallists strode proudly on to the stage. The crowd applauded politely. Uncontrolled outpourings of emotion probably aren’t a Slovenian thing. But maybe they’re just content with their lot in life – and who can blame them? Their country is a little diamond and well worth a visit.

Petelinji Zajtrk (Rooster's Breakfast) - English subtitles
Monday, December 1, 2008 8:00 PM, MC 136

Zvenenje v Glavi (Headnoise) - English subtitles
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 2:45 PM, MC 136

Sladke Sanje (Sweet Dreams) - English subtitles
Friday , December 5, 2008 6:30 PM, MC 136

The Center for Slovene as a Second Foreign Language in Ljubljana announces its 15th annual Slovenian Winter School Course. The two-week long course will take place from January 26 through February 6, 2009. The intensive nature of the course means that it is particularly suitable for people wanting to learn as much as possible in as short a time as possible. Students can choose from a four-hour course day to a more intensive six hour course day, depending on preference. The accompanying Winter School Social Program offers afternoon and weekend activities in which participants are introduced to Slovenian culture and society.

The documentary “All Slovene, all Russian, all English, and all cosmopolitan - the portrait of Janko Lavrin (1887 – 1986)” tells the life story of a Slovene intellectual, who spent most of his time abroad, first in Russia and then in Great Britain; but never forgot that he was a Slovene, born in Krupa, Bela krajina.

In 1915, as a young journalist he reported from the Balkan about World War I.

Slovenian film industry is receiving a special attention this November at the cultural center AFI Silver in Sivler Spring, MD.

With a program of 8 Slovenian movies, from past and present times, Washington movie-goers will get a chance to really experience the Slovenian cultural character, country’s expression of it’s identity, and last but not least, it’s take on the global narratives, as it is reflected through the Slovenian cinema. 

AFI has organized for the month of November its 21st annual European Film Showcase.

This first-class selection of films from EU member states includes film festival award winners, box office hits, as well as U.S. premieres.

November 8, 2008

Slovenian soprano Sabina Cvilak will be for the second year in a row part of a performance, marking the opening of the fall season at the Washington National Opera.

Starting next week, Cvilak will perform as Micaёla in Georges Bizet’s Carmen. Next to such great name as Denyce Graves, who is known around the world for her portrayal of Carmen, Sabina Cvilak’s performance is highly anticipated by opera lovers.

Not many people know much about Slovenia, but it is a tiny diamond and well worth the trip to find out more, says DAVE ROBSON ...

SO how much do you know about Slovenia? No, me neither. I’d heard of its capital Ljubljana, although spelling it proved a challenge, but other than that – let’s say it wouldn’t be my specialist subject on Mastermind. So when the chance of a week at a Keycamp holiday home in Ljubljana offered itself, it had to be taken.

Marko Nabersnik's Petelinji Zajtrk (Rooster's Breakfast), centering on forbidden love in a sleepy town, is Slovenia's entry for foreign-language film in the Academy Awards.

Klavdij Pirih is trying to be polite, but he has had enough of my notetaking and questions.

"How much did you use?" I ask, so absorbed in getting down on paper every detail about his Slovene dumplings that I haven't noticed that the chef has stopped blending together his mix of water, flour, eggs and salt.

Pirih is a chef at the Kenda Manor hotel, a 14th-century Relais & Châteaux property in the tranquil town of Spodna Idrija, where I stayed and took cooking and wine-tasting classes last fall. He is eager to share with me and several other students his version of idrijski zlikrofi, potato balls flavored with bacon, onions and herbs that are wrapped and cooked in a thin dough.