The Sounds of Eagles

The legend of eagles, which for centuries had protected the Albanian people, had vanished. The majestic birds that once watched over the nation's fate were gone. The long period of isolation under the regime of Enver Hoxha, one of the most brutal of the communist bloc, had cast Albania into a silence that lasted for decades. Repression, famine, and death struck the people, while the world forgot about the small Balkan country. It was only with the end of that regime, the death of Hoxha, the collapse of the Soviet Empire, and the long period of anarchy that followed, that Albania began to slowly emerge again. In the 1990s, the epic migrations to Italy became a symbol of profound despair, but also of hope for redemption. Thousands of Albanians crossed the sea in search of a better life. It was then that the world woke up, remembering the country. Slowly, the eagles, symbols of strength and freedom, began to fly again over that raw and mysterious land.Today, Albania is a country that rises with pride. After years of religious repression, churches, mosques, and places of worship have flourished in every corner. Many Albanians who had sought their fortune abroad are returning, bringing with them new experiences for a better future. The cities, are reshaping their skylines, building a new nation, open to the world and ready to show its beauty, its history, and its vitality.