What’s so great about being a Postojna Cave guide?

Janez: The first reason are the people you work with, and the second the cave visitors. There’s always something going on. No two days are alike and as tour guides we are always in the thick of the action. We’re always at the cave; it doesn’t matter if it’s Monday, Tuesday, good weather or bad, a public holiday or Sunday. We’re always here. We're a family.

A proper family, right?

Janez: (laughter) Yeah, I think it is what it is when it comes to Toni. His path is already mapped out. Every weekend, he asks me if he can come with me... He wants to be there, he wants to be in the thick of the action. He’s just biding his time, waiting for three, four years to pass, before he can start working as a Postojna Cave guide.

Why is he so into being a Postojna Cave guide?

Janez: You won’t find such friendly ‘weirdos’ who welcome you in, talk to you and teach you so well anywhere else. For Toni, Postojna Cave is a home away from home! He’s also a member of the Rakek Caving Club and by the looks of it, we’re about to have get another real caver in our ranks! And there’s one thing I need to stress: all caves are beautiful, but Postojna Cave is the most beautiful of all. It’s ours. And last but not least: there is no other organisation like ours. I’m not exaggerating.

Toni: And because there are nice people to hang out with and interesting work! I can learn languages! I simply like everything that happens here!

What languages have you learnt?

Toni: Lots of English and some Italian and German...

What do you like most about cave visitors?

Toni: Hmm, that’s an interesting question! I like it because they are good-natured and they compliment you when you tell them something interesting! 

What’s a good cave guide like?

Janez: First, you and your family have to accept that this is not an ordinary 9–5 job. There are no days off and holidays during the usual times for us. If you can’t accept this, you leave after a season or two. Those who accept it, become real ‘cavers’. That’s what we are like. We know languages, we know how to make a joke, we’re sociable!

How has the reputation of cave guides changed over time?

Janez: Cave guides have always enjoyed a fine reputation. They still do – they are important. And a cave guide gets more and more respected with age. And the uniform adds to it. I’ve noticed that especially for visitors from Italy, Germany and Austria, the tour guide is ‘the almighty’. So it’s important to know the cave, but just as important to know the people you guide: not only how people many there are in their country and who their president is, but also who won a football match, what the weather has been like in their country the last few days, the latest news, even the crime section news, but football beats everything else. You need to know whether Munich ranks first or some other club.

Toni: Ugh, I find that being a cave guide is quite a demanding job... Complicated, in fact! (laughter)

You’ve been involved in all major filmmaking projects in Postojna Cave. Is this what you especially like doing?

Janez: That’s right, I was there when The Witcher was shot at the Predjama Castle and other major projects in such a very specific setting as Postojna Cave. It’s very nice when a project starts; the first and the second tour to scout out the location, coordination, making all the arrangements, the challenges... and after weeks, months of preparations, when it all starts to come together. This is the best! It may sound ridiculous, but perhaps one of the best projects for me was during the COVID pandemic, during the biggest lockdown, when the cave was closed to visitors, but we kept working; we worked with a film crew, taking time for the details. It was a tough time to see the cave closed, but it was the perfect time to do the filming.