Maribor

Let's start in reverse order. First, for breakfast, we treat ourselves to homemade marmalade on fresh crusty bread and for a moment catch the bliss of the sinful flavors that mix in our mouths. Then just on the way, along the Styrian highway, straight to Maribor, where many surprises await us.

We can park our vehicle at the Supernova shopping center, take a quick walk between the shops, but be careful not to stay too long in any of the booths while appeasing the new summer clothes, as it would be a shame to miss the surprises that lie ahead. So let's quickly move on, across the Drava bridge, where we choose one of the cafes along the Lent from afar and have our morning coffee. Lent is a former harbor for rafts, enriched with tradition, which the locals still preserve today. Just as it is possible to take a boat ride on the Seine in Paris and the Thames in London, we can also indulge in a raft ride on the Drava, organized by the Maribor Tourism Association. The fun and relaxed atmosphere will be provided by the flossers, the flosser's frill and their companions, and the Splavarski Trio will create a happy mood with local music. The ride program also includes a presentation of Drava rafting in the past and the rafting baptism of one of the ride participants. On the raft, we will not even be deprived of culinary pleasures. Then a hop, back to the bank and further towards the old city center, where we get lost for a moment among the colorful streets and discover the V°5 design studio on Vetrinjska Street. In its flourishing atmosphere, the products of Slovenian fashion designers are brought together, including the creations of Barbara Podlogar, Aleksandra Ilič, Olga Košice, duda KUNDE and jaga BABE. It's hard to leave this colorful store empty-handed, but regardless of what we choose, the product will tell its own story and remind us of our adventure for a long time.

An innocent aphrodisiac
And it's time for lunch! It's already smelling around the corner, because in the Rožmarin restaurant, every day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., they delight us with unusual combinations of selected flavors from their slightly different cuisine. It would not be right to point out certain dishes, because any choice pleasantly surprises us. That's why we just bravely choose a dish according to our intuition and surrender to their friendly service, and finally visit their wine cellar. In the rich archive of both Slovenian and foreign wines, we will find exactly the one we have been looking for for a long time, and along with the wine, we can treat ourselves to a small aphrodisiac in the form of "Passion" chocolate, with pumpkin seeds or hot chili. But just be careful, because the day is still long, and the city is full of attractions worth seeing, from the oldest vine in the world, a defense tower, the Jewish quarter with a synagogue and much more. The exact locations and backgrounds of the sights will be explained in detail at TIC Maribor, where we will also be able to agree on our next challenge at the foot of Pohorje.

Indian Afternoon
In the immediate vicinity of the lake below the Hotel Arena is the Indian village Eagle's Nest, which with its image really gives the impression that we have stepped into the world of an Indian tribe. The visit is a real adventure for children, as they can learn about the Indian way of life, their history, customs, culture and games , participate in creative workshops and, like the Indians, live in harmony with nature, animals and everything that surrounds them, at least for a while. But it will also hurt me if we relax and move for a while to another continent of the world, among the Indians. From the fantasy world, back to the real world, to Pohorje, where some of its most attractive natural attractions are located - peat bogs with lakes. Among them, the most important are the Lovrenška barje, Ribniško jezero and Črno jezero. We decide on the latter at an altitude of 1200m, which is accessible from the direction of Maribor towards Slovenska Bistrica. We park the car at Treh Kralje, and then enjoy a half-hour walk to the Black Lake. It is surrounded by habitats of rare plants, peat mosses, forests, and above all by silence, an extraordinary climate and fresh air. At the bottom of the lake, the organic waste of dead plants and animals accumulated over the years and eventually created a thick layer of silt that is dark, almost black in color. Therefore, the lake looks like it is full of ink, even though the water is crystal clear. But don't let that scare us, so let's absorb as much fresh energy as possible in the silence and beauty of nature and slowly return home. And finally, it's time for kajmak, which can be spread on a homemade bun together with various specialties from the grill and skewers at the BalkanEkspres restaurant. Then, in the end, we balance our tastes and add a sweet taste to the salty with their juicy baklava and head home.

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