OK, all you fine folks. It’s time for a contest.
We walked by this building in Mérida, Mexico a couple of times. I thought it might be in the running for the most charming structure on Earth, but maybe that’s just me. We mulled it over as we walked, trying to guess what function it might have served. It’s not readily apparent. It started to bug me. I must know! So the third time we passed by, I asked, and was very surprised to find out the answer.
Now it’s your turn. Everyone gets three guesses. What is this building for? What would a person do there? The only clues are what you see in the two pictures.
In the great tradition of Don Rickles, the winner gets a cookie.
18 Responses
Museum? Courthouse? Restaurant?
Hi Ralph- Now we’re getting into the spirit of the thing. These are brave guesses. Wise conjectures. Insightful attempts.
Unfortunately, no cookie.
Clinic? Residence? Spa?
Leave it to Mike to wade right in and blast away. My kinda guy. These are fine, sensible guesses.
But sorry, no cookie.
wedding chapel? library? local government tax office?
Hello Tirane- Thanks for reading and commenting.
Those are three superb guesses.
Alas, no cookie.
local biker bar
This is, without question, the most amusing guess so far. I’m tempted to give it half a cookie on principles alone, but… sorry, no cookie.
By the way, everyone that already used up their three guesses gets three more guesses, because reasons.
OK, I cheated and looked it up. Amazing, but no cookie for me. Who would have thunk.
Hi Ralph. You are hereby awarded half a cookie for your very strong Google-Fu, as well as for resisting the urge to blurt out the answer out in the comments. Unfortunately, we must also penalize you half a cookie for cheating (when anyone’s looking). So it’s a wash.
However, you and I enjoy the complete version of the old saw: Curiosity killed the cat — but satisfaction brought him back.
Pharmacy? Foreign consulate? Bakery? I have more guesses, should this game to into extra innings.
Hi Mike- See, “foreign consulate” is exactly the sort of guess I made before I found out what this building was. Nope.
I hereby grant you unlimited guesses, for being exactly the same kind of wrong as I was on this topic.
This building was an axillary building that was designed and constructed by the local ice manufacturing company in July of 1905 to specifically address the problem of some of its customers complaining that they did not get the correct amount of ice. The company encouraged any customer who felt shortchanged to go to this location and pick up the quantity of ice they felt was missing and carry it home down the stairs to their house or apartment. In the winter time when there was less need for ice in order to make the building pay for itself the company sold trampolines in the back of the building to anyone who wanted such a thing. It was not well known but the president of the ice company also owned the local braces crutches and wheelchair company.
Hi Robert- That’s not correct, but that business plan intrigues me. If you’re thinking of launching a similar business, please let me in on the ground floor. I’m all in.
Recent construction patterns in my area have conditioned me to believe that despite its lovely facade, this is with 99 percent certainty either a self-storage complex or a car wash.
Hiya Warrant- Postmodernism strikes again! In the US, everything is Las Vegas now. You see a pyramid, and wonder if they detail cars in there. You see an Eiffel Tower, and assume it’s a parking garage. We are all indeed becoming conditioned to these things. That’s why no one has been able to guess what the building in the photos is for. It actually is what it is, and it doesn’t even register with us anymore. Hell, I had to ask what it was.
By the way, you’re hereby granted three more guesses. You can’t pass up a chance at a cookie, not can you?
I’ll forfeit my third guess for being grumpy.