Extraordinary Slovenia [antikvár]

Preface From start to finish, the journey I made through Slovenia to fulfil the idea for a book thatwould present 101 extraordinary features — a natural wonder or the work of human hands — took me approximately two years. The wealth of outstanding sights surprised me from day to day and from place to place, as I headed off gladly to such locations for the past two years. Despite the fact that the distance between the furthest extremities of Slovenia is a mere 260 kilometres, in order to produce the book you are now reading, 1 had to travel over 65,000 kilometres, descend 164 metres below sea level, climb 3,028 metres higher and savour for myself the pecuharities of this country's climate, which shows its character with temperature differences of more than 68 degrees Celsius. Woven into this book are also the stories of people whose lives have for coimtless generations been an indelible part of this small, yet rich little piece of our planet, be it a humble farmer, stubbornly persevering in one of the extremities of Slovenia, a conscientious shepherd of souls, painstakingly caring for one of Slovenia's greatest cultural or historical rehcs, a dedicated caretaker of flowerbeds admired by thousands, or a diligent librarian, helping to maintain the reputation of one of the most important cultural institutions in the country. With the publication of this book, my part of the journey is over. From here the book will continue its own journey. I hope it will find its way to as many homes and as many readers as possible. The fate of many of the outstanding features presented in this book will, alongside nature itself, be in our own hands, while much will also depend on those who come after us. t' Qsa^^^