Ihmezentrum by night

German cities appear a paragon of mixed-use development, with apartment buildings, stores, schools, businesses, green space, and transportation corridors all mixed up in a perfect blend of Gemütlichkeit and livability. There's no need to drive a car, the supermarket is a 5 minute walk in one direction, and a relaxing park complete with an off-leash area for dogs is 1 minute walk in the other direction. Trams run every 6 minutes down the main street through the neighborhood, and within about 10 minutes they can whisk you downtown for shopping, or perhaps to catch a high speed train to any other German city. Very sensible.

And yet, apparently this wasn't good enough. Back in the 60's, even in West Germany they caught the concrete highrise bug. And here lies the hulking remains of one such project, a gargantuan concrete arcology incorporating high-rise apartments and a (now totally defunkt) retail level. The Ihmezentrum, on the bank of the Ihme river, here by the light of the full moon.

Couchsurfers Steve and Paula

Next to traveling, hosting travelers is the next best thing.