Ljubljana, 6.3.2013: A Drinking Toast in the National Anthem
Journal From Ljubljana (1): The journalists’ exchange programme Close-Up takes the Palatine editor Kathrin Keller-Guglielmi for three weeks to Slovenia. For Rheinpfalz she writes from a country that was long considered the “Balkan Switzerland” and whose population loves to raise toasts.
Capital city Ljubljana. “It’s almost like Neustadt,” says Marjeta, my partner in this journalists’ exchange as she guides me through the city centre. Well, this city does have a few more inhabitants. There are about 280,000, but I must admit the centre is quite manageable. Scoffers claim that only Slovenia is even smaller… Because the country is so small in the past it was often called “the Balkan Switzerland.” The main reason though is that the Slovenians cherish their independence as much as the Swiss do. They are also considered hard working, ambitious and orderly – “model students” one could say. That was the image they had as long as they were able to demonstrate proper economic growth, but in the meantime, the image has picked up a few blemishes. Accusations of corruption, economic crisis, now the government crisis: this all doesn’t quite fit in with the ideal of strivers. But, regardless of the blemishes, “Balkan Switzerland” only suits the country to a degree. If we want to compare it, then the Palatinate should be considered. The Slovenians are probably the only people in the world that made a drinking song their national anthem. “To us the toast,” say the lyrics by the poet France Prešeren. A toast to you, France! To the rizling!
Published on 6 March 2013 in the ”Rheinpfalz”
