Birgit litterally saved my journey here in Rio by hosting me very last minute for more than 3 weeks.
She is a tourist guide who speaks many foreign languages and is very helpful and definitively benevolent.
Birgit has a very beautiful house on top of Santa Teresa near everything you need to enjoy the carioca life. You'll meet her sweet dog Luna as well. The room is quite wide and comfortable, the roof is high enough so you won't get any issues while sleeping.