Okay, how much did I love Joe's place? I loved it so much I tried to review it while I was STILL there. I loved it so much I took pictures of every angle to send to my brother to recommend It AND took a few pictures as I was leaving to remember it by. It wasn't just the physical place - it was Joe's warmth and hospitality from before I arrived, during my stay, and up to my departure. It was his thoughtfulness to leave a welcoming greeting on the door and a welcome note inside. It was the fastidiousness with which everything was arranged and prepared - from the condiments in the fridge to the full container of good quality coffee grind beside the Cuisinart coffeemaker to assorted grooming products in the bathroom. The place was immaculately clean and fresh. He had students on hand to take care of any needs or issues (I needed an extension cord at one point, and also asked for an external extension to be able to vacuum my car rental before return). He always responded promptly.
Now to the place itself: I fell in love with it because it was a little oasis, a little sanctuary for me to escape to, to retreat and heal, amplified by Joe's loving heart and energy and charm of the place. I loved the fact that the living room & bedroom had been combined by removing the wall - which made the room so spacious and airy. And his new powerful air conditioner kept the room wonderfully cool, even in the 90 degree heat. The towels were plentiful. The kitchen was large, bright and wonderfully old fashioned - including a Tiffany lamp hanging fixture. All amenities were present - from microwave to large (sparkling clean) fridge to microwave and washer-dryer. There was a small back porch off the kitchen - another little oasis where I had breakfast and dinner one night, with lovely seating, artificial foliage and table. I could see the trees and sky and bits of summer life of the neighbors' back yards. It was heaven.
Anything else? The bed was large, firm and comfortable. The apartment was VERY quiet, which I loved. The apartment geographic location suited me perfectly. It was close to NDG, accessible to the freeways downtown, accessible to large shopping plazas - yet had a small town feel like neighboring Verdun. Because there is a lot of freeway and freeway-access construction, it can get congested at peak hours to cross over the freeway to get to NDG- an extra 10 minutes - but I found it truly a small price to pay to be in a little bit of heaven.
Even while still there, I wrote to Joe that he could be my host forever. I am already aching to be back in that little sanctuary. It was even lovelier than the pictures and was everything I had hoped for, and more. Thank you, Joe!