Although we didn't get to meet Xavier, as he was out of the country, he was readily available via email. We were met by his friend who showed us around the apartment, which is in a large block of flats, accessed by two lifts, with security present. Once inside the apartment, the living area is light and spacious, as shown by the photo. Africa is obviously a passion of Xaviers, as he has a collection of African wooden statues decorating the living space, as well as a collection of books on trains and volcanoes. The bedroom was dominated by a large television set, as well as a wall of books. The kitchen was light, with the same aspect as the living area. All the basic appliances were available, but we didn't use the coffee machine, the oven or the iron. The bathroom was clean and the shower hot, with plenty of pressure. We found the apartment to be in a most convenient area, just 5 minutes walk to Montparnasse Bienvenue Metro station, with the trains servicing all the tourist destinations around the city. The trains were clean and frequent and we were mostly able to get a seat. Nearby the apartment there are brasseries and cafes, a supermarket a large shopping mall with specialty shops and several markets on specific days.