Blog No. 285 - Dubrovnik After the Siege: A Journey Through War, Healing, and Hope in Croatia Part 2 - 22 June 2025

Blog No. 285  - Dubrovnik After the Siege: A Journey Through War, Healing, and Hope in Croatia Part 2 - 22 June 2025

My purpose is to give hope to those who have lost hope. Without hope, we remain lost in the Shadow Lands.

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In the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was subjected to a terrible siege which lasted from 1991 until June 1992.  Dubrovnik is a World Heritage site but the Yugoslav Army tried to destroy it.

When the Croatian War of Independence finally finished in 1995, Croatia owed its independence to the courage of its people who refused to surrender their determination to gain a better future.

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Dubrovnik on 27 September 2013.  

John Hankin photos taken in Dubrovnik, 27 September 2013.

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Napoleon’s fort on Mount Srd, overlooking Dubrovnik.

John Hankin photo taken on Mount Srd, overlooking Dubrovnik on 28 September 2013.

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This plaque, located inside Napoleon’s Fort Imperial at the top of Mount Srd, tells the story of the determination of the people of Dubrovnik to achieve their independence even though this meant they had to endure enormous hardship.

John Hankin photo taken on Mount Srd, overlooking Dubrovnik on 28 September 2013.

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Another part of the plaque inside Fort Imperial telling the story of the struggle to prevent the Yugoslav army from capturing Dubrovnik.

John Hankin photo taken on Mount Srd, overlooking Dubrovnik on 28 September 2013.

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Dubrovnik as seen from Fort Imperial.  No wonder the attacking Serb/ Montenegrin army wanted so desperately to capture the fort.  Dubrovnik would have been quickly captured if the fort had fallen.

John Hankin photo taken on Mount Srd, overlooking Dubrovnik on 28 September 2013.

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Help yourself to heal Help others heal Give Love Always

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Wisdom can be expressed by actions and not just words.  People who die struggling to achieve a just cause demonstrate wisdom by selfless action.  The wisdom of the living and the dead are everywhere in Dubrovnik.

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Entry Made at 5:05 pm on Saturday 28 September 2013 Today Nicky drove us to the top of the mountain on which Napoleon built a stone fort 200 years ago.  The fort provides sweeping views of Dubrovnik far below.  Whoever controls the fort, controls Dubrovnik.  Nicky's father was part of the Croatian garrison in the fort defending it from the Serbian/ Montenegrin armies.  There are the remains of a Serbian bunker no more than about 40 metres from the front wall of the fort that faces away from the city. Fighting here was fierce.  At one point, the Serbs gained access to the roof of the fort.  The Croatian defenders asked their own people to fire at the fort to ensure that it was not taken.  The fort was not in fact taken. Now, a 99 year lease has been granted to the company controlled by a Russian billionaire.  A property development including a golf course is now to take place over much of the land that was the scene of so much fighting.  Later, we bought bus tickets to take us to Split.  We leave at 11:00 am tomorrow.  Then we had lunch and returned to the guest house. The house overlooks and is a few metres away from the neighbouring house.  A party was happening next door when we got back.  Someone was playing a piano accordion and there was much singing - all in Croatian of course.  The music continued for about 45 minutes after we got back.

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Singing in Dubrovnik Because You Can (Saturday 28 September 2013 at 5:40 pm) The piano accordion is not usually regarded as a regal musical instrument. It is shaped a little like an expanding filing system. It can be opened out wide; Or narrowed. Air is sucked in or squeezed out. Depending on the skill of the player, A set of keys is used to vary the sound produced by the ingoing and outgoing air. The piano accordion is a people's instrument. Ordinary people can acquire one. Ordinary people can play them. The piano accordion can produce music that makes the foot want to dance. It can produce tunes to soothe our sadness or accelerate our joy. Today, the piano accordion squeezed out songs of joy. One song after another spoke of music that lifts the soul. Of course, the piano accordion needed help. A musical instrument cannot be joyful all on its own, No matter how skilful the player. Joy requires the presence of company. The piano accordion had that company. Many voices sang out. The owners of the voices knew all of the tunes. They knew all the words to the tunes. What did they sing about? They sang of people and things that made them happy. Why did they sing? They sang because they could. They sang because singing creates life. They sang because they were a part of the universe that sings; We all are. **** Night Lights (Saturday 28 September 2013 at 7:28 pm) Over on my right, A little further up the hill, Is the main road to the airport. It is now night. Lights dominate the road, Just as they dominate the whole town. Bus lights clamber up the hill; Truck lights urge them on. The lights of the cars are impatient; They would like to travel faster; Instead, they labour slowly. They must wait their turn. Their heavier but slower kindred must first pick their way into the night. In front of me lies the harbour, Its entrance hidden from view by the blocks of flats. The harbour water ripples with light. A breeze and a slow current create the ripples. The light comes from elsewhere. The harbour is surrounded by hills. Humanity has inserted itself into the hills; Erected refuges where people can live out their lives. Wherever there are people, there are lights. Even cave dwellers used fire to banish the dark. So the hills are dotted by amber glows; Street lights, house lights, car lights; Lights from scooters, buses and boats. Although most lights are static, Some are mobile. As well as lights, people like movement. To move at night you usually need lights, So the lights become mobile. Mobile lights and static lights drop their cast off beams on the water; On the rippling water. That is why the harbour dances with ripples of light that cannot stay still. What is the result? The harbour breathes softly, Creating its own rhythm of life; While sitting above the harbour there are other lights. Even the closest stars are distant; Nevertheless they send their light to us. Across the inky blackness they send their light, Letting it brighten the night skies above Dubrovnik, Just as they brighten those skies at this precise moment. Does all this light have a purpose? Of course. Creating light is another way that the universe sings its songs; Just for us.

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Courage is the only way that we can ever create the Paradise that should be here on Earth.

Hatred only perpetuates the Hell we have already made for ourselves.