What are the things that make you come back to Postojna Cave even now that you’re retired?

Well this and that – all the things that the work entails. When you spend so much time with your colleagues, you become a family. You get talking and there’s a pleasant atmosphere. If you’re away for a few days, it feels like you’re missing something. As a local, I’ve always been fascinated by Postojna Cave and I’m happy to introduce it to guests... There’s a little bit of everything here. Every part of the cave and in every season – rainy or dry – Postojna Cave is something special. In fact, everything is interesting, although nothing is new. Every time you drive through the cave, you see something you’ve never seen before.

How has driving the cave train changed over the years?

The driving system has certainly changed … the way technology has advanced; how certain things take the pressure off you. Each type of train has its own history. These most recent ones, from 2019, are the ultimate luxury. They get nicer with each locomotive, certain things are easier – the technology helps you, turning on the lights, braking, spreading. When it comes to these new trains, all of this is like night and day compared to the old ones.

Being a driver of a one-of-a-kind cave train is very special – it's much more than driving a conventional bus, being a taxi driver, pilot, sailor or high-speed train driver...

People who don’t know much about this have all sorts of questions: they are interested in purely technical things, and the sensations are also different from driving a conventional train. You get most questions from children and Germans. They want to know what drives the train, how long the train is, what the distance between the tracks is etc.

Can you imagine Postojna Cave without the cave train?

No.

What has impressed you most during all the years you’ve worked in the cave?

The one thing I remember most is a group of women from Dalmatia, who visited the cave as part of their excursion. On the bridge inside the cave, one of the elderly ladies admitted that she couldn’t go on. I encouraged her, took her under the arm and offered to walk with her like this until the end. Together we walked through the Beautiful Caves and when we reached the Concert Hall, she looked at me, and her eyes were shining with gratitude... I’ll never forget her. “If I’d missed the things I’ve seen, I would have missed a lot!” And I agree with that.

You’ve been officially retired for quite a few years now, but you’re still around as a cave train driver on a regular basis.

There so much of it inside me – so much of the cave – and if I’m not here, there’s something missing. The years have taken their toll. But I can’t imagine a day without it. I am still happy to keep coming back.