Excursion to Maribor

This day and therefore also our last excursion in Slovenia started very early in the morning as our destination was a few hours away. When we finally arrived in Maribor we were positively impressed by the European capital of culture of 2012.

First we got a presentation about Maribor, and the volunteering work related to being a European capital of culture. After this interesting information, we participated in a guided tour by a woman from the tourist information. This tour made it possible to got some more impressions and a good overview of the city!

After the lunch break we had to do some questionnaires preferably with tourists according to Maribor as a tourist destination and especially as European capital of culture. It was interesting to talk to tourists and listen to their impressions and opinions, even if it was difficult to find tourists that were willing to answer the long questionnaire as they preferred to spend their time in the city of culture.

After conducting the questionnaires we had some time of before going back to the coast.

All in all it needs to be said that Maribor is a very nice city, which is definitely worth to be visited. For us it was very interesting to see how being a capital of culture can change a city and that Maribor really used this chance with organisinga lot of events and activities for their guests.

Good bye Maribor, see you during our next visit!

Team Netherlands

Chapter IX - "The ECOC Maribor"

Our trip to Maribor started at 5.45am, really really early...everyone with sleepy eyes and barely talking. 

When we arrived, we met with the reponsible for the Volunteers of the Cultural Capital of Culture, and the she took us to a presentation with the responsible of the Marketing of the events. They talked about the events in general, the most important ones, where they had or will take place, and after about the volunteer work that had been done, and how did it worked, enunciating all the steps that the volunteers had to do. Three of the volunteers also talked about their experience. 

After lunch, we had a task to do: fill some questionnaires about ECOC Maribor, with tourists and day-trippers answers. It was dificult to do all of them, because the people runned away, or they were impolite, or they simply ignored us. But we found some nice people from Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, Russia and also PORTUGAL (but they didn't fill in because they were in a hurry, not to be late). 

At 6pm we finally left Maribor, and arrived at 10pm. Unfortunately we are going late to bed, because of the video and the preparation of the final presentation. 

Good night people, see you in 9 hours ;)

*

Maribor

August 1, 2012.

New day. New story... Destination – Maribor! J

Today we woke up in the early morning and at 5.45 a.m. we started our trip to European Capital of Culture and Slovenian second largest city-Maribor. When we arrived at 9.30, the hosts of cultural institute presented us project which is divided into 7 sessions, and importance of volunteering. An important aspects of this project are cultural and art events; festivals, exhibitions, cooking lessons where participate a lot of painters, musicians, writers, dancers, photographers... Volunteers are one of the most importaint aspects of this project because they are in charge to host V.I.P. guests. The project counts 86 volunteers who have obligatory training before starting with their work. Volunteerism is very importaint from social aspect of life because there can particaipate everyone who has passion for culture and working in intercultural environment without age limits: students, employeed, unemployeed and retired people. We also had an opportunity to hear feedbacks of 3 volunteers and their positive experiences.

After morning sessions, we had walking sightseeing tour to the main Maribor's attractions and we also visited the bell of  St. John Cathedral which provide us beautiful city view and a lot of nice photographies. J

Lunch in the local restaurant with traditional food and free afternoon. During the afternoon we had a lot of work with questionnaires about tourism and feedback of Maribor.

Nice day, great experience and a lot of fun!

Thank you...

Croatian team J

Hatsi in the European Capital of Culture 2012

Dear readers,

Today I visited a city with a great cultural and historical background – Maribor – as I found out from the presentation held in the morning by the organizing committee of European Capital of Culture. Later on, we had a guided tour of the city so we could explore it by foot and see the wonders it offers.

After sightseeing, we had lunch in a traditional restaurant, where we had the chance to taste some good food, the famous green beer and ice cream with pumpkin oil and seeds.

In the afternoon we had to complete the assignment we were given which consisted in applying questionnaires to tourists and local residents regarding the changes that resulted from Maribor being an European Capital of Culture. We had some great encounters with some really nice and interesting people, that were willing to answer the questions. My team also had a chance to get involved in a local project for a few minutes on the “Flowers’ street”!

At 6 o’clock we took the bus home and I can definitely say that the way back was very sweet because of the doughnut and fun like a rollercoaster!

Ne vedem dimineaţă!

Hatsi

Welcome Maribor!!!

(...)

BUT! before welcome we need get up really earlier than everyday...

5:45 leaving was for most of us like in the middle of the night...

But we managed this and have grate interesting day at all :)

with interesting lectures about volunteering and European Capital of Culture project (ICOC)

than sightseeing...

walk near the Drawa river...

...and searching street art in Maribor for exemple:

xD

 scary outdoor exhibition...

hmm... like in clasic germany garden?!? ;P

And after sightseeing we've got tasty local lunch and a lot of work with questionnaires about Maribor as a European Capital of Culture 2012

 

 In the end of our all thay long trip we made nice "Fotopączko" :D

And one polish sentence in the end:

"Jeśli Ci się dobrze wiedzie

jadasz pączki przy obiedzie"

try to say it and good luck! :D

31 July 2012.

Hello,


Last day of July... We got our moring session at 10 with Agata Kiluk from Krakow University in Poland. The title of session was «Voluntourism, educational institutions and social capital creation» through which we seen the current situation of the Polish educational system and how the voluntourist are helping to improve the current situation, even by using new technologies. Before lunch time, Miha gave us instructions about the trip to Maribor for tomorrow.

                                                            In the afternoon we had workshops with our groups in order to finish all our tasks in next few days. In the evening we had our dinner and then around 10:30 in the evening took a swam in the sea to refresh ourselves. After the short swam, we returned back to our flats and started to prepare for the tomorrow trip to Maribor.


Best regards! 


Croatian team  - Ana, Filip, Livio & Matija

Wednesday, 1st August 2012

At 5.45am we left Portoroz to take a 3 hour bus tour to Maribor. As most of us didn't get much sleep we continued to sleep in the bus. At 9am we arrived at Maribor and at 9.30am the presentation about the European Capital of Culture ECOC and their volunteering work started. We also had a short presentation of 3 of their volunteer who shared their experiences with us.

After that we had a little sightseeing tour through the city. As the city isn't that big, it didn't take us that long ;) We also have noticed that the buildings in Maribor look very similar to the Austrians, so we felt like beeing home again! At 1pm we had a delicious 3 course menu at a traditional Slovenian restaurant where they also served green beer!!

From 2 to 6pm we had to do a survey about MARIBOR 2012 with tourists and also locals. After finishing it we had a nice walk through the city and enjoyed an ice coffee at the river.

At 6pm we started our journey back to Portoroz which actually took us 4 hours in total. In between we enjoyed a great donut.

Thank you very much for this trip which we really enjoyed even it was a long day.

See you tomorrow,

Jasmin & Stefanie