Valeria accepted my booking request on the spot which was great as I needed something there and then. She showed great flexibility and left an event to come and greet me.
The building where she lives is a nice old fashioned building in Leme (2 blocks from the beach). The room is large and has 2 single beds. What I liked was the quality of the mattresses : too many places overlook this highly important need for any traveler.
Guests also have access to a private bathroom.
Valeria was helpful and lent me a jumper and a scarf on a untypically cold week-end in Rio. She knows the area very well and will be able to advise on many places for food. She also offered me chocolate and agua de coco which I thought was very nice.
I like Leme a lot. it s the extension of Copacabana but a lot more traditional and feels more local. This is due to the fact Copa Cabana isvery busy given its intermediate location between ipanema/leblon and the flamengo/botafogo/centro. A lot of people go through Copacabana anad don't stop there. But leme is nested in a corner and leads to nowhere. It has retained a lot of its character and the beach is just as nice as Copa.