This is an older apartment in an older building about a half-block off the main avenue of the Gambetta neighborhood -- the floors have a lovely creak; the bath is plenty big with plenty of hot water and a firm shower spray; and the kitchen is cozy and has all that's necessary for making a cup of tea or preparing a meal. Throw open the living room windows wide enough to hear the city sounds, but not so much as to disturb; wide enough to enjoy a nice breeze when the weather is good and the evening light lingers. There's plenty of storage for clothes and toiletries. Be prepared for the early morning light to brighten the room through the sheers. The three flights of stairs are easy to walk up, but there's a tiny elevator for luggage or if you're feeling too tired to take the stairs. There's no radio or TV, so be prepared to relax with a good book and your iPod, if you want.

The neighborhood is great -- plenty of bakeries, cafes, specialty shops (oh, but the cheese was fantastatic from the shop just up the street), a fantastic local market on Wednesdays and Saturdays where you can buy fresh vegetables and fuits, fish, meats, baked goods, flowers, herbs, every kind of olive and nuts and dried fruits, household items.... Take Faina's suggestions on the sheet she provides for checking out the Gambetta community -- especially the Pere Lachaise cemetery. You won't be sorry!

I used the bus to get around -- walking or taking the bus gave me views of Paris I'd have never had taking the metro. The primary bus for getting to all of the typical "tourist" sites is the no. 69 -- it'll get you right to or close by Pont Neuf (for boat rides), Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, Tuileries, Palais Royal, Latin Quarter, Eiffel Tower. You can make a connection for the Arc de Triomphe, or you can do as I did and walk the length of the Champs Elysees from the Louvre/Tuileries -- wear very comfortable shoes! Buy your bus tickets in lots of 10, to save a little. You can buy tickets on the bus, if necessary. Be ware -- the authorities DO make spot checks (I was checked twice, myself); they get on the bus and ask to see your ticket, so don't cheat!

The apartment is clean, comfortable, and perfect for one person -- no more than two, since the fold-out bed is a double. It was easy to maintain, easy to clean up prior to departure. I treated it as my temporary home and was comfortable. I felt safe in the building and the neighborhood. As a single, older woman, that was important. The experience of living in a Paris neighborhood was a big part of my first-ever Paris visit. And if I return, I won't hesitate for a moment to book this apartment.