Upon entering the house for the first time, I am not sure which impressed us more...the beautifully decorated home, the immediate and instinctively warm hospitality of Rosalia, Haroldo, and their family, or the breathtaking views of Cristo Redentor from nearly every room in the house. Grand and awe-inspiring as he is, he serves as a backdrop to the seemingly effortless graciousness of the Serafims.

No mere afterthought, the room too is simply an extension of the rest of the home: immaculately clean and tastefully appointed with warm woods, crisp white walls, a pair of hip pendant lamps, a comfortable bed, and soft mood lighting--not to mention the large en-suite bathroom and adjoining closet area.

As to the house's location, it is in the calm eye of the touristic storm that is Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana, Ipanema, Lapa, and Corcovado. In Humaitá, you are not only in a great, safe neighborhood with plenty of shops and restaurants but also in the center of it all with all the major sites being but a short walk, bike ride, or taxi ride away. The house is also convenient to the highway that takes you to/from the airport, making your arrival or departure a breeze. The steep hill on which the house is perched is a non-issue with cheap, plentiful taxis that are quickly hailed from one of the easy-to-use apps downloadable on your mobile device. Walking down the winding road, at several turns you will be treated to sweeping views of either the lagoon or Cristo Redentor, a great way to start your day in Rio.

In short, the Serafims and their home are a real jewel in the Airbnb family of hosts, and we could not imagine staying with anyone else while visiting the Cidade Maravilhosa.