AUDIO SCRIPT

1.
This is a region in the southeast of Slovenia for which the local people say it lies on the "sunny side" of the Gorjanci Hills. It is the land of white birches, great for trekking and cycling tours. It is famous for its richly-decorated Easter eggs and a folklore festival called ‘Jurjevanje.’ You can marvel still unspoiled nature from the cleanest and warmest river in Slovenia, the Kolpa river. The river borders Croatia and is great for kayaking and similar water activities. Those with the need to release their adrenalin can try paragliding from the 546m high plateau Smuk.

2.
This is a natural area of 135 km2 of wetlands known for the remains of the prehistoric pile dwellings or crannogs. The oldest of such dwellings dates back to 5,000 B.C. The people lived on hunting, fishing, and primitive cultivation of land, and they moved around in canoes that were made by digging out the inside of tree trunks. The wetlands is home to diverse and rare animal and vegetal species. You'll see many of them if you join an hour-an-a-half long guided walk where you'll definitely get a chance to observe the birds, take photos of the symbolic marsh tulip, or a representative of some endangered bird species. Another place worth seeing is Lake Podpeč, a small but remarkable lake offering swimming and fishing.

3.
This is the oldest Slovenian town, situated between Slovenjske gorice and Haloze. The town prides itself with a rich history that reaches back to the Stone Age. It has an almost entirely preserved medieval town core, and the castle with vaulted wine cellars beneath it. It is famous for the Mardi Gras carnival, but there are many other opportunities to spend unforgettable moments in this fascinating town. You can test your driving skills on a kart race track, test your shooting potential at Pragersko shooting ground where several international clay pigeon shooting competitions took place or try the best-arranged golf course in Slovenia.

WORDS TO REMEMBER

paragliding = (n.) a sport where a person glides with a canopy resembling a parachute
pile = (n.) a heavy beam or post
crannog = (n.) an ancient dwelling constructed in a march
vault = (n.) a large underground room used for storage
Mardi Gras = /ˌmɑːdɪ ˈɡrɑː/ (n.) a carnival held for Shrove Tuesday