Blas is an outstanding host: prompt, attentive, thoughtful and kind.
He's fluent in English.
And Blas is almost immediate in replies to your questions.
Unlike San Telmo, immediately at Plaza Dorrego, on Humberto Primo near Defensa, where knives are pulled on tourists, in vacation apartmentment home invasions (we have first hand experience, having been invaded, which is why we immediately left san telmo though we still had a week left on our airbnb there and booked with blas) Blas' part of Palermo is safe.
And good news. If mosquitoes eat you alive like they do me. I've not had a single mosquito bite here - even with the windows wide open.
More good news. This apartment is in a part of Palermo in which soaring London Plane Trees embrace over the middle of the streets. They're a gigantic green parasol. The air smells sweet and feels cool.
Don't be fooled. Not all of Palermo is gifted with an umbrella of trees that provide sanctuary from the sun and humidity.
Palermo SoHo, for example, though chic, trendy, and hip with its shopping district and street art, is not pleasant to be out in when it's more than 80°F and the sun is beating down on you.
But you can easily walk to Palermo Soho in about 15 minutes from this apartment.
And the entrance to the Botanical Garden is about 3 blocks away.
The EcoPark entrance is a 15 minute walk. So is the Evita Museum.
Walk out the front door and about 50' away across the street and on the left is a tapas bar called "a 'Manger".
Walk to your right for a couple of blocks to a bakery called "San Blas" (get a slice of Postre Balcarce and some Italian cookies and credit cards accepted).
There's a Carrefour Express just around the corner a minute walk away.
And the Subte (subway) stop Scalabrini Ortiz is 2 1/2 bocks away.
Don't blow your money on food you can get at a better price and with better service.
Save your money - go down-home.
Go to Lo de Bebe. (credit cards accepted)
Lo de Bebe is funky, laid back, and super friendly.
The menu is !*huge*! with perfect parrilla, or vegetarian, or vegan foods.
Now, about the apartment itself.
Don't expect a palace. The apartment is clean. Yet it is basic. We were their third guests, and the way we think about it is that with every booking a great host like Blas (manager) who represents Inez (owner) puts money in their hands to live in a struggling economy and continue to add touches to the apartment!
Do expect comfort!
There's good WiFi and a good coffee pot.
The apartment is very typical of this neighborhood.
It's designed to take advantage of the climate by opening and closing windows and doors to capture the near-constant breeze to insure you're comfortable.
We used the air conditioning only once - on a super hot and humid day.
We closed the kitchen and bathroom doors, turned on the air conditioning in the living room and pointed the vents at the bedroom - it worked well.
There are exterior roll down shutters to darken the bedroom.
There is unending hot water - and great water pressure.
The bed *very* wide - and comfortable for someone 6'4".
It's quiet at night!
It has Netflix and YouTube and local TV.
The sofa is comfortable and easily seats three or four.
It's great having a washing machine cause it means packing lighter (think only the need for carry-on luggage).
And happy day! A bidet!
Thank you Blas - and Inez! All the best to you!