Oh, my, what a wonderful stay! I wanted to write this review in English so that I could be sure to properly express my gratitude for such a wonderful stay, since English is my first language, though perhaps I will write a bit in Italian, as well. My time in Rome could not have been better. Natalia was an amazing host. Everything about my stay was perfect. The room is even more beautiful than it appears in photos, and the bathroom was spacious and spotless. The apartment itself is also absolutely stunning, and Natalia was very clear that all I needed to do was ask if I needed something (and there was very little that I needed, because she anticipated so many needs beforehand!). The location could not have been more perfect; it's in a very tranquil, safe area with many cafes, bars, restaurants, and gelatarias. I was able to walk almost anywhere I wanted to go; even the Forum and Colosseum were within what I considered rather easy walking distance (maybe about 30-40 minutes or so?).
But even with all of the raves above, what really sets this place apart is Natalia and her family. I had been exchanging messages with her before I arrived, and I already had a favorable impression of her--friendly, warm, and hospitable. She was happy to accomodate my arrival time...when I realized I would arrive earlier than expected, I sent her a message, and she welcomed me warmly! From the moment I arrived, I felt very much at ease and at home with Natalia and her family; I have taken Italian lessons for a while, and part of what I was looking forward to when coming to Italy was having the ability to immerse myself in the language. Natalia and her family were incredibly kind and patient with me as I worked to practice my Italian, and they invited me to sit at their table and dine and converse with them more than once! I really enjoyed my time with them. I felt so welcome in their home, and Natalia was an absolute fount of information--the room itself was filled with thoughtful suggestions, maps, and places of interest, but Natalia went out of her way to recommend places and activities that she thought I would enjoy based on my interests. She knows so much about the city, about history, about film and literature, about language...I could on and on, but suffice it to say that a tour guide could not have done better. When I told her that I was hoping to go to Greece soon, she not only pulled out several books and guides, but she gave me a number of personal recommendations and suggestions! She always went above and beyond, and I can't thank her enough for her gracious hospitality and commitment to making sure that I had an amazing experience. She was also very flexible with my check-out time and even called me a cab for the train station. She's incredibly quick to respond to messages and made sure that I understood that I could message her any time with any questions or issues. I had such a terrific stay, and I would (and will!) stay with Natalia and her wonderful family again next time I am in Rome.
Tutto era perfetto! Che bella esperienza! Un ottima posizione, una bella camera, una famiglia gentile. Natalia e' molto, molto cortese ed esperta. Grazie mille!