ASEF WEEKEND GETAWAY 2025
From July 4th to 6th, ASEF Research Abroad Fellows of various generations and the 2025 Visiting Slovenia Fellows embarked on a two-day trip through the picturesque Dolenjska region.
Our journey began with a visit to the pharmaceutical company Krka, d. d., Novo mesto, where we toured their state-of-the-art facility for the production of solid dosage forms, Notol 2, and learned about the operations of one of Slovenia’s largest companies. We explored various stages of medicine production and listened to a presentation about the company’s history and development. In a relaxed atmosphere, we had the opportunity to ask numerous questions and discovered fascinating facts about the workings of this internationally successful company, which today employs over 13,000 people and operates in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Photo: Krka, d. d., Novo mesto
After the visit, we checked in at Hostel Situla, located in the heart of Novo mesto. The evening continued with a delicious dinner, followed by icebreaker games and a fun quiz about Slovenia, the USA, and Argentina. Laughter and good cheer helped the scholarship recipients bond even more and learn about each other’s countries.
The next morning, we visited Zavod Čebela, where we were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Andreja Stankovič, her husband Dragan, and their friend Mija. Mrs. Andreja, who has been passionately working in the field of apitherapy for many years, introduced us to the beehive and honey garden, explained the meaning of traditional painted beehive panels, demonstrated the apitherapy process, and brought us closer to the world of bees and their crucial role in nature. We listened with interest as she explained how a queen bee is formed and what life inside a hive looks like. Afterwards, we participated in a creative pinching workshop where we shaped our own unique clay mugs. The activity was both fun and educational, and we quickly realized that working with clay is more challenging than it seems. A rich lunch with homemade delicacies followed: mushroom soup, spreads, a variety of vegetable and meat dishes, and a delicious dessert.
We spent the afternoon at the Novo mesto city beach, where we went canoeing and stand-up paddling on the Krka River. Paddling and cooling off in the water was the perfect end to a sunny day. The evening continued at Hostel Situla with dinner, enjoyable socializing, singing, and guitar playing.
On Sunday, we first took a walk around Otočec Castle, renowned for its refined architecture and picturesque location on an islet in the middle of the Krka River. This was followed by a visit to the Kostanjevica Cave, where a guide led us through the mysterious world of stalactites and fascinating natural formations, happily answering all our questions.
We concluded the trip with a visit of Aleksandrova and Tonijeva zidanica, where the hospitable Toni welcomed us with a table full of Slovenian dishes and a wine tasting of selected wines. Each course was paired with a carefully chosen wine, enriching the culinary experience. After lunch, we toured their beautifully preserved wine cellar and then, full of impressions, returned to Ljubljana.
At the end of the trip, we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to experience the beauty of Dolenjska, reconnect with nature, learn many new things, and form valuable new friendships.
Sincere thanks to everyone whose hospitality, knowledge, and goodwill contributed to making our trip truly unforgettable:
Krka, d. d., Novo mesto, Hostel Situla, Andreja Stankovič from Zavod Čebela, Mestna plaža Novo mesto, the Caving Club of Kostanjevica na Krki, Aleksander Bohinc and Anton Žulič from Aleksander and Toni’s wine cottage, Brano Pejić and Emrah Ponjević from Arriva Slovenija, and Iris Brili, Sara Gradišnik, and Daša Furman Oman from the ASEF team for organizing and carrying out the trip.