Now this was a jam-packed fun-filled day! We had an early start, leaving our hotel at 7:45 to head to the Postojna jama (cave), Slovenia’s number-one tourist destination. It is a cave extending many kilometers below the surface of Slovenia! Slovenia has one of the largest karst regions in the world. This has led many Slovenians to joke that Slovenia is actually twice as large as it looks on a map because it has a second floor! The Postojna jama is one of the only tourist caves in the world that has a fully functioning train running into it, and we were all very grateful for the train as it made the tour a lot less walking and a lot more enjoyable! Inside the cave, we learned about the stalactites (which grow from the ceiling), the stalagmites (which grow from the floor), and curtain formations that grow when the water slowly runs along the side of the wall. (There are even formations called spaghetti.) It was truly a wonder to behold all the incredible formations, especially knowing it takes roughly 100 years for each formation to grow just one millimeter! It was so amazing to be so far underground, where we even encountered human fish and baby dragons (two terms they use for the cave salamanders).
Next we took a 20 minute drive to Predjama Castle. This incredible castle is situated inside a cave! Once inside, you can see how the builders used the natural rock as the back wall of the castle and how effortlessly the manmade walls connect to the natural rock. We also learned about some of the people who lived inside the castle. The most famous owner, Erasmus (Erazem), holed up in the castle for over a year to avoid the army that awaited him outside. He was able to send servants out a secret passageway to get supplies. Ultimately he was betrayed by one of his servants who, when Erasmus was on the toilet, signaled to the army outside using a candle. The army then shot a cannon into the bathroom, causing it to collapse and killing Erasmus. The castle itself has an incredible view of the valley and provided a unique cultural and historical experience for us all!
Walking through caves and up castle steps helped us develop a bit of an appetite. We headed towards a traditional farm for some grub and were warmly welcomed by men and women in traditional Slovene clothing! 
We were also greeted traditionally by being given a piece of homemade bread which we then dipped in salt and ate. It was so fun to walk in while traditional music was being played for us live. Accordion, fiddle, and clarinet. We then sat down and were given more bread, water, and fresh apple juice! We continued to eat cabbage soup (which tasted like sauerkraut), homemade mashed potatoes, sausage, and porks slices from their family-owned pigs while the live music continued.
The Slovenes then began to perform traditional dances for us. It was so fun to hear them sing and watch them dance! Once they finished, a man came up to me and asked me to dance! I was taken for a spin, or I should say many, as I was led through one of the traditional dances. Almost all of us danced with one of the individuals we met and we all had a great time! I was sad to leave the festivities, but beyond grateful for the experience. It was a day I won’t soon forget and a memory I will keep forever!
~Sophia
Sophia Hathaway is a junior double majoring in environmental studies and global studies with a minor in sustainability. She has focused on the Carniolan bee as her Slovenian culture study and can’t wait to share with the group her findings! Be sure to stay updated on all the buzz.