Celine’s place was a great find and a nice place to rest, relax, and recharge, right in the middle of a great neighborhood. The apartment is located near stops for 3 different metro lines, and the Marais is a nice 20 min walk away. The Oberkampf area is full of great restaurants, cafes, and shops.
The apartment is hidden away, so although the entrance to the courtyard is right on Rue Oberkampf, once you go through that door, you are transported to a quiet, plant lined, cobblestone path. Celine’s home is near the end and so even with the windows open, you mainly hear birds and the view out of the huge windows (floor to ceiling up to the roof of the 2nd level) is of the plants outside, including a fruitng fig right across.
Inside there is a nice sized kitchen with a good sized fridge, good counterspace and an induction range. There is a market just down the street on Fridays, and the Marche (market) Bastille (Sundays and Thursdays) is a short walk away, so you could easily grab some great fresh ingredients and actually cook.
The stairs to the bedroom, library, and bathroom are steep, but manageable. Celine keeps a very clean place and the stairs and walls are white, so her request to take off shoes before the stairs made sense.
Celine was also very nice to meet, and offered great, and frank advice on where to eat and drink nearby. We followed her recommendations and had a great time. When we do return to Paris, we will check to see if Celine`s place is available -- perfect location and accommodations.