Arriving in Prora was quite surreal, not only because of the sheer size of the complex, but also for the remoteness of the location. If it weren't for the summer vacationers I felt as if we would be the only people walking around these ruins; and subsequently wished it were a bitter cold February day.

The hotel sprawled out along the beach in various stages of decay, as well as a few spots of activity in the form of a night club and museum. It was more secure than I had expected it to be; the top windows had all been smashed out thoroughly but the lower floors were boarded up tight. Upon closer inspection I noticed a "deggy" - an electronic checkpoint installed on the exterior of the building, used by security companies to ensure their guards are physically making rounds on schedule. I've seen these checkpoints a few times in the U.S., as well as another curious security feature - logs or planks of wood leaning against the exterior doors. The sun was setting fast and we had seen the patrol car make its way around, so there wasn't much time to wander around outside.

We managed to get inside one complex that had obviously been renovated by the GDR; any part that was originally from the Third Reich seemed to be in such a ruinous state that it didn't look to be worth the possible trouble. The interior was quite bland and empty, which was to be expected, but were quite disappointed to find no tunnel access after much searching. I tried to pop off a few shots of the exterior before the sun set, and the night was spent camping out on the beautiful sandy beach.