Jean was a wonderful host who did his very best to have us enjoy our stay at his marvellous place. He came over to deliver a light bulb and brought an extra air conditioner during the heat wave. We were most comfortable. An unexpected plus was the selection of books in Jean's apartment in French and in English. The place was well appointed with all the necessary comforts. We did have a little trouble mastering some of the French appliances and could never figure out how to get the washer/dryer combination to dry clothes thoroughly. This was not a problem since there was a drying rack in an extra bedroom and the clothes dried fine on it. One thing about living under the eaves is that one does have to be careful not to bump your head. I amused the rest of my family with my loud exclamations as I hit my head multiple times on various beams, stove hoods and so on. I think a tall person over 6'3" would be in trouble. The neighborhood is absolutely fantastic!!! It is filled with restaurants and cafes that we liberally sampled. Le Petit Canard up the block is not to be missed. Outside the front door are 5 restaurants with sidewalk service. While there are some tourists like us, most of the patronage comes from Parisians which is a relief and adds some authenticity to the experience.
Another huge plus to our 10 day stay chez Jean was his friends and our neighbors, Andre and Anna. They were so warm and helpful and thoroughly charming. Andre is a photographer who has spent some time in the States and is full of funny anecdotes and opinions. He also was a source of information on finding the best boulangerie and finding the best prices. To get him going all you have to do is ask him about his favorite subjects, Food, Women, and Politics. Actually all you have to do is listen :) We hope that he and his wife, Anna visit us in San Francisco.
All in all if you want a comfortable place to stay with wonderful people close by in a terrific neighborhood, this is it. Oh, I forgot to say that the Metro is close by and that we had no trouble getting anywhere in Paris by Metro or just walking.