I had a fantastic stay at Clara's apartment. The place was clean and comfortable, situated in a great neighborhood. The immediate surroundings have hardly any tourists meandering through, so you can enjoy life as a Parisian does. There's cafés and bakeries all around and it's very safe. On the other hand, if you're up for some tourist traps, the Eifel tower is easily within walking distance. I walked all the way to Montmartre and found it enjoyable. Paris overall is very walkable.

Clara was a great hostess, very responsive and helpful. She gave me great tips for things to do: I told her I really wanted to see Cyrano (a famous French play) and in a jiffy she found a nearby theater that showed it. The play was fantastic by the way and brought a terrific denouement to my trip.