Hi,
My name is Mateja (pronounced as Mateya). This is a female version of Mathew that we have in Slavic languages. I come from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.
I finished my first studies in Yugoslavia (today's Slovenia is ex YU republic) at University of Rijeka, Faculty for Tourism and Hotel Management. Finished Bachelors of Economics. At that time, I started to work as a tourist guide for English and German speaking travellers as well. Later on, in the time of wars in Yugoslavia I went abroad to study or to work: Switzerland, USA, and Australia. In Australia, I studied at Swinburne University and finished Certificate of Business Administration. In Australia, I focused on eco-tourism (or today we would call it sustainable tourism). Since 1995, I am back in Slovenia. As independent entrepreneur had a tourist agency until 2000. Later on I got the license for tourist guide in Ljubljana and the region of Central Slovenia, Ljubljana Marshes Regional Park, Slovenian Istria as well as a license to guide in our National Museum of Slovenia. I am also a Destination Expert and Consultant at many fairs where Slovenia represents its treasures and for all business and individuals who would like to spend more time in Slovenia.
In between, I finished another Faculty for History focused on Cultural History and especially on the impact of women in the development of our capital Ljubljana in the period until the end of the WWI.
I am a WFTGA accredited tourist guide trainer, developer of different tours in Ljubljana (Ljubljana Food Tour, Our youth in communism, Sightseeing in Ljubljana by canoe, Ljubljana in Baroque time, Art Nouveau period in Ljubljana, Language- Literature- Identity tour, Ljubljana in the period of Reformation, …).
Virtual tours are new for me; however, I enjoy them very much: they give me opportunity to meet people from all around the globe and spread the world of our Slovenia and its heritage to all who cannot travel or who would like to get some insight before visiting us.
