What brought you to Postojna Cave?

I joined the Postojna Cave team as a student, because I needed money. But the more I got to know a cave guide’s work, the more my attitude changed. Maybe I found the right spot for my soul, a place where I really found myself. I became a part of something bigger and proved that I can achieve something by myself. I started by conducting group tours in English, other languages came later. And that's when I realized I was really good at it. Once I fell in with the flow it was quite liberating. Today I see myself as a dinosaur among guides. There are but a few of us left, and that's because trends keep changing. We used to write the stories, today TripAdvisor writes them. But I'm not stopping. It is an honour to be able to present the cave in my own way.

I get the feeling that being a guide is more than just a job for you…

I am Postojna Cave! Not the company, the cave itself. That’s how I feel. It’s basically my home. Or home away from home at the very least. Actually, it is my home, because I don’t have any other. I see it as a kind of a curse that some may admit to and others won't. It’s a very specific job, not for everyone. But I still believe I made the right choice. I shouldn't say this, but I’ve never really worked in my life! (laughs)I came here at a time when I didn't know what to do with myself and I found myself. Or maybe the cave found me, who knows. I trust the cave. I can talk to it. I don't often show that I'm in a bad mood. I'm talkative, rarely without a smile on my face, because I can act as well. But not in front of the cave. The cave knows everything about me. The moment I'm here, I feel good. It's my safe zone. I've spent two thirds of my life here. And I can’t wait to spend some more.

Which part of the cave is your favourite?

There really isn't a part that I don't like. Each part is unique.

Despite the fact that touching stalactites is strictly prohibited, you know very well that they also sound very nice, don’t you?

There are two parts of the cave exempt from that rule. Of course, you need to have an audience that deserves it. I usually play the cuckoo, a tune taught to me by the older generations of guides that I adapted a bit. ‘Smoke on the water’ also sounds very good. The fact is that the stalactites are tuned to perfection.

I remember my first year at the cave. The guides' room was still full of instruments used the previous evening for the famous guides’ picnic. One of the guides picked up a guitar, the other an accordion. We then proceeded on the tour of the cave by having the musician guides walk and sing in front, while the visitors sang along with us throughout the entire tour. Can you imagine doing this today? Crazy! It's one of those crazy moments that you remember for the rest of your life.

What makes a good cave guide?

Each guide must express who they are. The fact is that nothing you learned while studying for your license will help you. I believe that each part of the cave requires a different personality. That's why in this classic, tourist part, I'm more of a classicist, while in the Black Cave I turn more decisive, almost like a commando in the sense of, ‘I can do it.’ Some of my colleagues use a speleologist’s approach, donning a helmet with a headlamp... You have to be who you are.

Which rock song would best describe the job of a guide in your opinion?

Ha! Despite not being a fan of the Rolling Stones, I’d still go for ‘It’s only Rock’n’roll, but I like it.’ And that goes for both: the guide service and Postojna Cave. I keep getting asked, “Don’t you get bored doing the same thing day in, day out?” Bored!? Get out of here. It’s not boring, because it's rock'n'roll and rock'n'roll is never boring. And it needs an audience!