I'd like to start by saying that the room itself was very lovely. It was clean, the location was wonderful, and the balcony was great. I wish the description had mentioned it was a 4th floor walkup so I had been prepared. The rest of the apartment definitely smelled like cigarettes, which didn't bother me much but should be noted.
The reason I'm rating this stay 2/5 is because of my interaction with Johannes upon arrival. Johanne had sent the apartment number in a private message over a month before my arrival, and I hadn't seen the message. My mistake. Because of this, I called his number via airbnb when I arrived, unsure which buzzer to ring. Johanne was very hostile on the phone, saying he'd sent the info and very bothered that I hadn't "remembered" or "written it down." I apologized immediately. Someone else let me in the front door, and I found the apartment hearing Johanne's voice on the phone since he still wouldn't say which one it was.
Upon opening the door, Johanne remarked that I "must be from the most recent generation" since I clearly wasn't able to remember anything. I was very uncomfortable and apologized again. He showed me the room, continuing to be hostile and bothered and saying that he was "pissed off." He then condescendingly showed me around the apartment. I thought the conversation was turning around when he asked where I was going home to. When I said Los Angeles, he literally said "ah! what a shithole!" and then "you should go home and fix your country." At this point I was hoping to just get out of the conversation and be alone, but he continued on telling me how Americans were coming to Berlin and ruining it by bringing Fentanyl, and he proceeded to do a physical impression of someone high on Fentanyl. I was quiet and shocked, clearly uncomfortable.
Johanne's greeting was so inhospitable and uncomfortable that if I had a higher budget I honestly would have left. I was disappointed and surprised by this considering all of the wonderful reviews of him. I'm not sure if I just caught him on a bad day, or if he had a particular disdain for me or Americans in general (which I understand, but still). Perhaps a combination of both. Either way, his reaction to my simple mistake felt extreme and it tainted the rest of my stay in the otherwise lovely space.