The apartment was really lovely. My biggest worry that it might be too close to the favelas turned out to be totally unfounded. The place feels very safe, and it is an easy walk to the main restaurant area in Leblon. Rio is a very exciting and beautiful city, but it does feel stressful at times. Getting "home" to the tranquility of the apartment with those stunning views and the lovely sound of the sea was just what I needed to make my stay perfect. Busses to the city centre or to the Ipanema and Copacabana beaches run very frequently from just across the street.
Both Jeanne and her husband were utterly charming and were a great help in sorting some problems we had with the car hire company.
If you can manage to walk up the equivalent of about four floors of steps, albeit within a beautiful gated garden, then I can highly recommend this apartment.