Prior to heading to Rio, Silvia was very helpful in corresponding and answering any questions I had via Whatsapp. Silvia's mother greeted us at the apartment, and Silvia was on the phone to answer any additional questions. While the second bedroom was on the smaller side, the apartment was perfectly sized for what we were looking for, with the bedrooms separated by the kitchen and the living room area. A big porch with a couch and table allowed for relaxing outside when we weren't seeing the sights, or out for food and drinks.

The neighborhood itself is more quiet (but certainly vibrant), but a short walk or cab ride from Leblon, Ipanema, and Copacabana. If you walk to the left out the front of the building there are plenty of shops and restaurants; I wish we had more time to explore the immediate area, but there's so much to do in Rio, and a week certainly isn't enough time. Jardim Botanico is about a 15 walk away, and definitely a must-see in Rio.

All-in-all if you want to be a short stay away from the hustle and bustle of Rio, but want to be able to have a quiet place away from the noise at night, Silvia's place, and the neighborhood of Gávea, is the perfect spot for your Rio homebase.