From before booking to reserving a reliable taxi to get back to the airport, Carole was helpful and great with communication -friendly, quickly responsive and clear. The booking was exactly as described. It was a true Parisian neighborhood, within 2 blocks of Marche d'Aligre, a morning produce market down the middle of the street with flea market tables set up in a plaza at the end. The location of the apartment was on a very busy and diverse street lined with stores, old apartment buildings, cafes, restaurants and workshops of varied craftsmen. The street dates from medieval times as one of the first arteries of Paris. It was a safe place for a woman to walk alone. The Metro was one block away and getting anyplace in the city was easily accomplished. As busy and wide as the street was, perhaps my favorite part of staying at Carole's apartment was slipping into the private courtyard alley located between a restaurant and a fabric store, buzzing ourselves through gates and doors to small gardens set on cobblestones. The noise of the city was left behind as you entered a cloister shared by small families. I'm so glad we chose to stay at Carole's. Before we arrived, the troubling news of flooding, the trash strike, rail strike, pilot's strike and concerns related to the opening of an international soccer tournament were daunting. But, in fact, it meant for us fewer tourists and better bargains. Carole (whose English is perfect) was easily available by text for any questions and advice. The dire news did not even prove to be an inconvenience to us and any anxiety about not knowing what was going on was alleviated by Carole's assistance. She was as present and as invisible as one could wish.