Interior patios, common in Spain, allow you to get a glimpse of the lives around you.  All of the apartments around has have a small 'galeria.'  This is typically where the washing machine, the heater and the cleaning supplies are stored.  Some have windows to close them in and others do not.

I've learned a lot about my neighbors by hanging out my laundry.  A family across the way sends their child to the same school as Ben, as evidenced by the uniform hanging out to dry.  They also follow the school's rules to a T as the child's lights are out at 8:30 sharp.  My downstairs neighbor has a turtle who gets to sun itself occasionally in a container set on the ledge.  Another man across the way is the one who does the laundry.  Late at night, I see a secret smoker who leans outside her galeria window enjoying a midnight cigarette.   

I remember this concept a bit from living in New York City, but the Valencian windows are always open.  Long ago, while studying in Madrid, my fellow apartment mates and I learned how to say our Spanish Js by listening to a neighbor shout daily to her son over the sound of frying oil...."Javi......A comer!"  (Javi - to the table - let's eat)