Because it's 11 and dinner is not ready yet (and also, I live in a convent)

What the semi would've looked like back in the day
(plus conventillo immigrants with nifty duds)

...and by convent, I don't mean nun convent. I mean the seminary, which used to be something called a conventillo, or a tenement co-op of sorts for Italian immigrants back in the 1880's day. Apparently there were a bunch of them built in a last-ditch effort to the age-old problem: "we have lots of labor, where do we hide them?" Sure does explain some of the quirks about the building, and make me wonder how many big Catholic families and sketchy singles have lived in my room. And died, for that matter, since convivencia during an influenza outbreak in the 20's killed off a bunch of conventillo-dwellers. Just the sort of thing I think about as I drift off to sleep...

Conventillo/seminary: we have the same tile in the patio!

But, back to the pleasant details: I live in a little piece of Buenos Aires history, complete with tall doorways, narrow stairways, and inconvenient bathrooms. Knowing that it has been around for at least a hundred years gives me confidence that it'll stick around for a while longer, and gives me patience when it creaks and groans and randomly loses a section of wall. Hey, it's viejito. Old.

Random piece of wall under repair...
"Trust" says the last intact word ;) 

These are the things I find out when I have too much time on my hands, waiting for dinner at 11:30. You're welcome.