We were warmly welcomed to Patrick's apartment by Raphael, who was prompt and showed us everything that we needed! We found the apartment to be exactly as shown in the photographs. It was spotlessly clean, airy, light, and very very quiet and peaceful. The lift is tiny, but an absolute godsend after a day exploring Paris. It was also great for taking our baggage upstairs. Patrick kindly left us a lovely bottle of wine and a very comprehensive and easy-to-follow set of instructions for all the appliances in the apartment. His annotated map of the area was also helpful for finding the many lovely cafes and shops in the immediate vicinity and for locating bus-stops. The apartment is a 10-minute walk from Bastille and from the Gare de Lyon. A taxi to the Gare du Nord cost us 15euros early in the morning and took about 10 minutes (Patrick's info book included taxi reservation phone numbers and other helpful numbers).
The apartment is very comfortable for 4 people. Our group consisted of two adults and two teenagers, and we liked having a few different areas to go to after a day of sightseeing- the two bedrooms and lounge room are all a good size and can all be closed off from each other. The apartment would suit 2 couples or a small family who could share 2 double beds. The kitchen was equipped with everything we needed for having meals in the apartment. There are supermarkets close by and the Marché d'Aligre and surrounding streets are full of wonderful food shops.
The bathroom is very nice- the shower is enormous and received a "best shower of the trip" award from my 15-year old nephew!! The wifi was quick and reliable, and there is plenty to read on Patrick's well-stocked shelves.
We had a wonderful stay in this lively and friendly area of Paris, and would definitely stay here again. Merci Patrick!