Punat - Vinko's Homeland



Journey through Punat

 

Joe: "There was more to see in Zadar, but it was time to head towards the island of Krk and town of Punat. Draw a squiggly line on a page and that is what the Garmin screen looked like for a good part of the trip from Zadar to Punat. We found out motorcycles do not have any no passing zones, not ever. After arriving at the hotel in Punat, we found the perfect Croatia Zeets camping spot - with camping, hotel, Vinko's memories, and close by, a Karlovacko Beer garden.

 

 

Our hotel in the background.

 

Joe: "We met up with Damir Palatinus in Punat. Damir lives in Daruvar, but has an apartment in Punat. We had a few drinks with him Sunday night and coffee on Monday. He is a distant cousin to Ed Eck (Deanne's uncle). Marva Eck had put us in touch with him months ago and he has been very helpful in finding Dad's house and offering any other help. Rumor has it there might be some of Damir's homemade slivovitz at the Zeets campout.



Danielle: "During our exploration of the town, we came
across these handmade metal crests."

Boat Ride to Kosljun

 



 

 

 

Danielle: "There were tons of little pathways for meditation."



Danielle: "In hopes to find a better picture of the monastery, Mikey
and I came across little stone rooms and a garden."

 

The town of Punat

 

 

Joe: "I really enjoyed telling Vinko's stories: at the monastery on Kosljun, at his boyhood home, and around Punat. Dad's house looks different from '88, they have enclosed the porch we met Nada on. On the last night, we bought honey from a neighbor of Vinko's house. He was saying a relative of mine just passed three or four years ago. He called her Franka and said she had a daughter. I said my aunt Franka passed years ago and had no daughter. After we left, I wondered if this Franka was the cousin of Dad's that we met in '88."







The honey shop next to Grandpa Vinko's house.

 

Joe: "We had good food in Punat, the four cheese gnoochi were a favorite. I thought of Dad, both because of gnoochi and the mac and cheese he loved. We finished the night playing a Croatian game Mikey found along the way."







Mikey's fish platter!