Lovely big room, cute cat, friendly hosts! My stay was for just over a week which gave me time to explore the area of Prenzlauer Berg; this "much gentrified part of the former DDR" ( I learned) is teeming with young families and children and has a very comfortable vibe; the beautiful Gethsemene church is the focal point of the immediate neighbourhood. Whereas the room is indeed on sidewalk-level, there was more sound from the kinder and parents in the morning than from anyone at night. As a frugal traveler, I was able to find many affordable, casual restaurants and take-out places nearby, not to mention the small grocery stores (produce and cold beer available) which dot the neighbourhood. Access to transit could not be better; S-bahn, U-bahn and the M1 and M2 trams all minutes away; after a few days I was able to find a good route to anywhere I wanted to go. Thanks to Andrea and Jessica for a thoroughly enjoyable experience for my first time in Berlin.