I visited Melbourne to sit an exam... and I couldn't think of a better way to compensate for exam doom than by staying in my favourite suburb of Fitzroy. Gail's place was perfect to balance out the textbook blues - it is tucked away down a little alley surrounded by street art, and is a very short walk to both Smith Street and Gertrude Street, with all the wonderful graffiti, coffee shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and idiosynchratic little shops.

The apartment opens up onto a bright and flowery little courtyard which feels more like you're at someone's cottage than in the middle of a city. The room has a comfortable bed, a well-stocked bookshelf, and its own little kitchen and bathroom (with a good pressure shower!). I really appreciated Gail leaving me some bits and bobs for breakfast, especially the tomatoes from her garden.

Finding and getting to the place was very straightforward and Gail was close at hand to help with any dramas (like borrowing an iron). She is a wonderful host and had some great tips on where to get coffee or a drink. She works as a guide on the Warhol / Ai Wei Wei exhibition at the NGV, which I was really looking forward to seeing - so it was a nice bonus to get some insider tips.

I heartily recommend this apartment to anyone wanting to live like a local in Fitzroy and soak up all the charm of this vibrant area.