Albania was a closed-off country for decades, with strict rules and constant fear shaping daily life. Under communist rule from 1944 to 1985, travel was limited and outside news barely reached people. The country is still covered with bunkers built during that era, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 700,000. These small concrete bunkers, ordered by Enver Hoxha, were for soldiers ready to stop foreign invasions. When communists took control in 1944, they nationalized industry, eliminated the middle class, and turned Albania into a Soviet-style state before aligning with China. The regime closed borders, banned religion, and tightly controlled books, music, and films. Albania declared itself the world’s first atheist state. Surveillance was everywhere, even targeting intellectuals and party members. Despite these harsh controls, Albanian traditions and hospitality survived. Writers and artists faced persecution, yet family ties and local customs remained strong. Today, many bunkers have new purposes: some serve as museums like Bunk’Art 1 and 2, while others are cafés or even hotel rooms. After Hoxha’s death in 1985, his successor Ramiz Alia was slightly softer, but little changed until 1990 when political pluralism returned. Young Albanians risked their lives to seek freedom abroad. By 1991, open elections marked the end of Albania’s isolation. Though the economy and society were damaged, Albania showed resilience. Walking through the country now, the traces of the past stand alongside a vibrant, hopeful culture reclaiming its place in the world.