I never met John, as he is an owner abroad usually, I think, but he, Mokbul, and Raffaella took great care of me.
It’s a really neat location but I think i overstayed, as I was here for seven weeks. The furniture, unfortunately, is past its prime so the couches and chairs are all poor for back support and comfort, which became a problem for me with a long stay. If you’re only here for three or four days, you’ll be fine. The sofa and chair in the bedroom are •great• and the apartment would be better served if everything in the living room were replaced by the bedroom offerings.
The location is great for the chaos and dynamism of the Mercato Del Capo, if you’re after that. It’s a neat place to observe life and I really enjoyed that aspect.
The internet was reliable, the view is killer, the gas stove works great, and having a shower with the window open while you look at the mountains and catredale is amazing.
The kitchen is kitted out for those who want to really cook, even including a Moroccan tagine, which is probably my favourite part of my stay here. And it’s a gas stove, which, considering the gong show that is the low electrical load in most Italian homes, is a really welcome thing — you won’t trip the breaker panel just from boiling some water! (And even if you do, the breaker panel is in the kitchen, not on the ground floor, thank goodness!)
The stairs are extremely steep. There are 60-70 of them but each step is a bit higher than your average, so it can be a bit much for some people. I struggled but I know other guests next door adjusted after a week, they said.
All in all, this is a pretty neat area. The furniture needs updating. The hosting is attentive and kind. The location is interesting for a slice of life unlike any other you’ll get elsewhere. I don’t regret staying here but I stayed too long for the comfort level on offer.
For staple foods, turn right out the front door and walk a block down. On the left opposite the coffee kiosk is a supermarket with a good deli. You’ll spend less here than on goods in the mercato. But get your veggies and chicken at the mercato. Most of the stands closer to the apartment are cheaper than the ones further up the street. If you return to the same merchant regularly, you might get a better deal.
And I’m a single woman, too fat to outrun criminals, but I felt safe in this area. It’s gritty and intense looking, yes, but I didn’t feel unsafe. (I also didn’t stay out past 10, though!)