This is not a difficult question to answer, although one answer will probably not be enough. It would be hard to find a country that offers as much natural, social and cultural diversity as Slovenia, nestled between the Alps, the Mediterranean, the Pannonian Plain and the Balkans. All this is the consequence of centuries of coexistence with a variety of natural features, links with neighbouring cultural areas and the vital creativity demonstrated by cultural heritage and different spheres of contemporary knowledge and expertise. Slovenia's essential characteristic, from both the historical and modern points of view, is its diversity, which results in an abundance of riches and beauty in a relatively small geographical area.
This is also illustrated by all four stamps inviting visitors to Slovenia. Slovenia is a green, mountainous country, as shown by the stamp featuring the view from Lipanski Vrh towards Pokljuka. Slovenia is also a land of abundant fresh water, as illustrated by the stamp showing the Kozjak or Great Kozjak waterfall on the Kozjak stream, which flows into the emerald river Soča at Kobarid. Slovenia is also a land of know-how, as symbolised by the high-tech Panthera aircraft built by the Ajdovščina-based manufacturer Pipistrel. In all its modern endeavours, Slovenia does not forget its cultural heritage, which represents not only stored historical memory, but an excellent starting point for contemporary creativity. The fourth stamp features a photograph of a carved wooden mould used to make decorated gingerbread, which relates both to artistic heritage and (because of the use of honey to make gingerbread) to Slovenia's remarkable beekeeping tradition and modern forms of apiculture.
Janez Bogataj
