Lena is such a nice person. She provided a warm welcome and gave me a bunch of tips on where to go, what to do, etc. She also left a few things in the fridge for me! The apartment is extremely well located, just a few minutes from the beach (Arpoador side). There's a gym a block away, a laundry service two blocks away, bus stops right in front, but you can essentially walk it to anywhere in Ipanema in a matter of minutes. I felt safe walking at any time of day. The apartment is nice, with lots of space. Good Internet, cable, a stocked kitchen (didn’t use it as I was eating out all the time), hot water in the shower and airco (didn’t use it, the apartment stays cool throughout the day). The building can be a bit noisy at times, but that didn't bother me much. I’d definitely stay here again.