Where do I begin? I have been to Paris 4 times, always staying at the archetypal French hotel. Never again. I hope Roberto and his flat are the new normal for accommodation in Paris. His is a lovely 2 room place that had everything we needed for a fantastic stay. What I wanted: a place near a Metro that had coffee and food nearby; in that order. It had to be quiet at night and safe. The internet and the washing machine were big pluses. We used both. We got off the Metro and walked down to the flat, we passed every kind of store you could ever need: cheese, meats, breads, coffee. There was even a cyber cafe very close and these are getting harder to find. Also, there is a G20 market across the street that you will love. They are cheap and amazing. They had so much stuff tucked in to that tiny space that it was worth going as a interesting trip! Their produce was not as fresh as a produce-only store, but there were a couple of mouth watering produce places right on Charonne that were impressive. Do not make me say this more than once: you will be able to buy good wine for about $1.50 at the G20. Have you booked your room yet? You will know which bakery to hit because you will see the line. Do not miss the Picard store, located at the Charonne Metro. It is the European "Trader Joe's" only better. For very short money you can enjoy all kinds of frozen delights... bacon wrapped beans, ice creams, meats, soups, potatoes of all kinds. Really great since you have your own kitchen. I was nervous about having only one cooking surface, but it worked like a charm because we usually ate pasta or bought a rotisserie chicken at the la boucherie... oh my gosh, the best chicken I have ever tasted. They stay open late, but do not push it, I think it closed at 8PM. On Sunday we found a large flea market (mostly junk, but if you find that you did not pack for the weather you can find a cheap item here.. be prepared to bargain) along Bd De Charonne (a cross road east of Av Phillipe Auguste) and enjoyed the chicken kabobs. They also sell something that looks like a hotdog, it is beef and lamb and seemed to be very popular. One item to take note of: this is a 5th floor walk up if you count using the American system. I counted, and you are pushing up 79 steps. It is a workout with luggage but was not really a big deal after the first trip. Going down is easier ; ) So, if you are looking for a quiet place to crash after a day of running around Paris, this place is perfect. Roberto could not have been more accommodating, I really felt so welcomed. The beds were comfortable and the...