Andrea is a wonderful and considerate hostess who went out of her way to make our stay pleasant. Her place was clean, comfortable and spacious. It is a type of gated neighborhood with a grocery store, restaurant and other facilities located within. To use the pool you will need a medical certificate showing you have no awful contagious skin condition, best come equipped or you can get one there, but that is time and money...
Take note, this place is not next to the beaches, but there is adequate public transport and taxi service available. If however, you are looking for an authentic, safe, hospitable location that will really give you a taste of Rio and Brazil, this is ideal!
Also important to note that Andrea speaks fluent English, a rare and important asset in a city that is not very anglophilic.
In short, two thumbs up!
One final note - prior to my flight everyone warned me about thieves and how dangerous it can be. Personally I felt none of that; cariocas I met were friendly and eager to help. And no, I was not robbed. 🙂