TRAVELOGUE LECTURE: CHICAGO AND THE AMERICAN MIDWEST – THEN AND NOW
On Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at 18:00 you are invited to the premises of the Dislocated Unit Library UP FTŠ – Turistica for the first travelogue lecture Chicago and the American Midwest – Then and Now. The lecturer will be traveler Tilen Nipič. The lecture will be held in Slovenian.
About the travelogue lecture
We will embark on a journey across the vast prairie plains and among the dizzying skyscrapers and meet witnesses to the industrial rise of the American Midwest region (Midwest). Special emphasis will be placed on cultural peculiarities, including a visit to the Slovenian National Center in Cleveland, as well as the way of life and the current state of the area.
In addition to the infamous Chicago, we will explore in more detail other important centres of the region, such as Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis and other cities. Tilen will present the method of travel and share with you useful tips and recommendations for visiting the Midwest.
We will also learn about the musical background of St. Louis, visit Springfield – the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln and the building in which he delivered his famous speech. There will also be glimpses of the legendary “Route 66”. At the end of the lecture, we will also focus on the secrets hidden by the windy city, and say goodbye to Chicago with a stunning view of its night scenery from a dizzying height.
About the lecturer
Tilen Nipič is a postgraduate student and employee of Turistica, a volunteer of the Slovenian Tourist Board and a young traveler from Styria who has been happily exploring the world for several years. He is passionate about discovering hidden corners of Slovenia, experiencing nature, and traveling with the goal of taking home as much knowledge and experience as possible. Although he likes to structure and plan his trips in depth, he also greatly values authentic, unique experiences that often happen spontaneously and unplanned – especially when they involve contact with local communities and learning about their stories, customs and culture. Of course, his routes never lack local delicacies, which are an important part of any complete experience.
His motto that accompanies him on his travels is: “Life is too short to see the whole world, so I have to start as soon as possible!”
The lecture will be followed by time for questions and a relaxed discussion, in which we will be able to compare the experience of traveling in 2024 with the current situation in the USA.