Armchair Traveler: The Juliana Trail (Slovenia)

Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. make sense / meɪk sɛns / (idiom) – to be understandable or reasonable
    Example:

    The forecast said there’s a 100 percent chance of rain, so it only makes sense to bring an umbrella.


  2. draw / drɔ / (n.) – something that attracts a lot of people
    Example:

    The 200-year-old church remains to be a major draw in the city.


  3. picturesque / ˌpɪk tʃəˈrɛsk / (adj.) – very pretty and charming
    Example:

    There’s a picturesque view of the ocean and mountains from the hotel balcony.


  4. touch / tʌtʃ / (n.) – a detail that’s added to complete or improve something
    Example:

    The scented candles added a nice touch to their dinner date.


  5. splendid / ˈsplɛn dɪd / (adj.) – beautiful and impressive
    Example:

    The architect designed a splendid three-story beach house.


Article

Read the text below.

During 2020, one focus among tourism operators worldwide was “slow tourism.” The few people who crossed country borders had to go through long quarantines, so it made sense that they wanted a longer, more immersive travel experience. Slovenia’s Juliana Trail was made for slow tourism.


These days, fully vaccinated people entering the country can skip the quarantine period, but the trail is still a major draw.


A popular town on the trail is Radovljica, with a history stretching back to the late 13th century. Fuel up with gingerbread hearts at the Gingerbread Museum, then bake your own gingery creations.


Slovenia is well known for beekeeping, and you can visit a beekeeping museum in the town’s central Radovljica Manor.


The section around Lake Bled is one of the trail’s most picturesque. It’s flat and can be hiked in an afternoon, stopping at its many natural attractions.


Bled is most famous for its castle, built on a rock overlooking Lake Bled. Bled Castle is the oldest in the country, dating back more than 1,000 years. It has been converted into a fine museum, but one of the best things about it is the views of the lake.


Every tourist will want to take a boat to visit the Church of the Assumption, which stands on an island in the middle of Lake Bled. The church has been restored and hosts wedding ceremonies. It also features some lovely touches, like a glass floor panel and a splendid altar. You can even ring the bell.


There’s a lot more to the Juliana Trail, so we’ll definitely have to come back another time. (T)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • During 2020, slow tourism or a longer, more immersive travel experience became one focus among tour operators worldwide. Would you be interested in trying slow tourism? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • These days, fully vaccinated people entering Slovenia can skip the quarantine period. Do you think more countries should allow foreign tourists to skip quarantine if they’ve been fully vaccinated? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Radovljica, Slovenia has interesting museums such as the Gingerbread Museum and a beekeeping museum. Which would you like to visit? What other unique museums would you be interested in visiting (ex. chocolate museum, underwater museum)? Why? Discuss.
  • Bled, Slovenia is a popular slow tourism destination because of its castles, churches, lakes, and mountains. If you were to go on slow tourism in Bled, how many days would you stay there? What activities would you do? Why? Discuss.