THE AREA/NEIGHBORHOOD:
My boyfriend and I had never been to Brazil and we definitely had a lovely time staying at Andre's apartment in Urca! The neighborhood is absolutely gorgeous, views are spectacular (we even saw a tiny monkey climbing a tree on our first day), and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. Our Portuguese is far from conversational, and everywhere we went people were quick to either jump in and help translate (we ran into many people who spoke English and Portuguese), or patiently pantomime with us! :) Also, the area is very safe. We went out several nights and just relaxed and had drinks on the waterfront with the locals.
THE HOST: Andre was super responsive. He always replied within the hour and often within minutes, which was incredibly helpful. He was also extremely considerate. When he learned we were looking for a place to wash our clothes, he gave us access to the washer and dryer in the adjacent house. When he learned our Internet signal wasn't quite working, he allowed us to use the office in the house. No matter what the question or the issue, Andre was quick to find an answer or solution- a quality we truly appreciated during our stay.
Additionally, Andre's in-country contact person, Lena, was extremely helpful and friendly as well! When we arrived, she showed us around the apartment and taught us how to work everything. She also helped us find some of the best places to eat.
THE APARTMENT: The apartment was clean, tidy, and the perfect size for my boyfriend and I. The fan was great for keeping the place nice and cool, no matter how hot it was outside, and there was room to store our luggage. The bed was a bit firmer than I usually prefer, but we still slept quite soundly every night! :)
Andre was kind enough to leave tissue and soap for us, and (as I mentioned earlier), he also gave us access to the office and washing machine when we needed it.
Overall, it was a relaxing and affordable stay in the beautiful neighborhood of Urca! Safe travels!