The flat has the perfect location particularly for a girl travelling solo like me. It is indeed cosy but the perfect size for 1-2 people with a small kitchen and lounge separated from the bedroom. It's also high up on the 6th floor away from the noise and has great natural light. The fans work really well too. The photos are accurate. It feels safe as it's not near the favelas and the area is pretty busy. I didn't meet Flavia and Nando but there were very responsive to my emails and reassuring as I was arriving late in the evening and was worried about picking up the key. The 24 hour concierges are very nice and helpful (helps if you can speak a bit of Portuguese). One in particular helped me get a cab when I was having problems. The shower is a little on the luke-warm side even with the winter/hot setting switched on (although I used a shower at a local yoga studio and it was the same, so maybe not such a concern for Braziians due to the warm weather!). It wasn't really an issue though for me. All in all, a great experience for me and I'd definitely recommend the apartment if you want a great location and are concerned about safety.