The house was fantastic. It's in a great area, close to the Metro and in a cool neighborhood with some history (the old executive palace is a few blocks away). The street is quiet, with a great neighborhood feel. Grocery stores, etc. are nearby. The view of the city, including Cristo Redentor, is superb. The house itself is old and has some character, with wooden ceilings and bright walls. It was very clean. Pauline and Rodrigo were great hosts, and they gave us plenty of suggestions (one of Rodrigo's best suggestions was to go to the roda de choro in Praça São Salvador at lunchtime on Sunday. Highly recommended). All in all, I got a feel of not only Rio's tourist side but also what it would feel like to live as a Carioca.