The house is beautiful and very artistic, at the top of a narrow flight of 30 or 40 stairs, up from a quiet tree-lined street near the entrance of Parque nacional da Tijuca and IMPA. The neighbourhood seemed quite safe for Rio, and the location fairly convenient, with a number of grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants within 20 minutes by foot. I particularly appreciated the nearby forest, where I passed many happy hours walking.
But perhaps the best part is the host, Dalai. She was helpful from start to finish, at the house when I arrived, always available by phone and email, and she worked quickly to resolve all issues that arose during my one-month stay. She is a warm and intelligent person who is generous with her time, speaks excellent English, and treated me more as a friend than as a customer. I will miss our long conversations and the time she spent to introduce me to various aspects of life in Rio.