Importance of Pastivina, Hungary

One of the most interesting details of this novel is the many places the author mentions in the former Austria-Hungarian empire, which has since been carved into several new countries. Pastivina is a village in the Carpathian Mountains. A small house in Pastivina is where Ondrej takes his son next. During half the year, they live in the village with Ondrej's second wife. The remainder of the year they spend in the mountains tending sheep. The mountains are key because there Josef learns the most vital lessons his father has to teach him- concentration, patience, hard work, tracking, orienteering, marksmanship. It is too these mountains Josef's mind turns during the years he is away at war, and to these mountains he returns when he finally finds his way home.