The Depto

San Telmo Loft is growing. Ok, not the Loft itself, but our collection of really cool vacation rentals is expanding. Our new apartment is called The Depto. Here in Argentina, apartments are called departamentos rather than the more common Spanish word apartamentos. And Depto is short for departamento, or more precisely, it’s the pronunciation of the common abbreviation dpto.

The Depto is an adorable one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a very cool, historic tenement (coventillo or casa colectiva). How incredibly San Telmo! This is part of what I love about this neighborhood (barrio). It was once home to the wealthy, who moved up north during a yellow fever outbreak in 1871. Then, during Argentina’s heyday and massive immigration, San Telmo’s mansions were converted into conventillos.

And what did this multiculturalism due to massive immigration give birth to? Tango, the most remarkable and celebrated cultural tradition of modern Argentina.

The Living Room

The Depto is perfect for a couple, but it can sleep four. Check out this old-fashioned sofa bed and matching crib which opens up into a twin bed.

The Kitchen and Breakfast Room

We knocked down a wall and opened the kitchen up to the living room because no one wants to be stuck in the kitchen cooking while everyone else is out in the living room listening to music, snacking on tapas and drinking wine.

The Breakfast Room/Patio

There’s also a great little patio area, or breakfast room as we’re calling it. Of course, it could be for breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, whatever. It’s surrounded by windows (which can be opened) and the second heater is in the breakfast room for those who are visiting us in winter.

The Bathroom

A spacious bathroom with great water pressure and polished cement floors that feel good on bare feet is not easy to find in old apartments. One of our guests said she thought this was the best bathroom in all of South America. It’s not, of course, but it still rocks.

The Bedroom

The bedroom is so cozy and quiet, you may have trouble waking up. After a particularly late night, close the shutters outside and light won’t come in at all.

Casa Colectiva Bernardino Rivadavia

The building even has its own Wikipedia page (in Spanish), Casa Colectiva Bernardino Rivadavia. It’s was built in 1921 as housing for the working class. What amazes me is the quality of the materials they used in working class constructions. Beautiful wood floors, tall ceilings, thick walls, gorgeous window frames and great doors. The Depto has been renovated, of course, but the apartments these days are simply not built with such solid bones.

For more pictures of The Depto, see our Flickr site and the set for the Depto on Defensa.

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