The first night's stay on a drive from Berlin to Rome... no better place than in the Harz mountains. This evening, a cold chill settled into the darkening forests surrounding the small town of Schierke. Following the winding road into town, a dark silhouette suddenly rose into the night sky above the treeline. Such a large edifice seemed unusual in such a small town - a gated drive leading onto the property was choked with weeds, and signs of neglect were abound. Plans were quickly made for the next morning.

As the long shadows shrank from the valley the next morning, we were trekking through the damp weeds towards the place; thin wisps of fog seemed to cling to the foundation in a last-ditch effort to survive before being inevitably annihilated by the climbing sun. Once inside, we realized this was an old hotel, and most of the guest rooms on the upper floors were incredibly intact... perhaps even cozy. Some rummaging in a few closets would bring up some clean pillows and blankets - I would have definitely spent a night camping out in here.

Some rooms were beginning to deteriorate however... sheets of wallpaper had started to loose their adhesive power and began to sag and peel off in massive sheets. The draped sheets combined with the classic niches of 19th century architecture created a surreal environment of small, dark caverns. Some rooms appeared to be quite organized, while others were in states of disarray - as if someone, or something, had ransacked the place trying to desperately find something. The fresh mountain air turned bad on the ground floor, as the extensive woodwork sprouted mold in the damp and stagnant environment. By the time we hit the basement, we could barely breathe. Fungus and mold of all colors flourished in in this eternal darkness, and my flashlight illuminated the cloud of spores like a lighthouse in a thick fog. After a few light-painted photos, I was ready for that mountain air once again...