Donella and Nora were great hosts, available when needed and quick to respond on chat. They gave us some good tips on restaurants in the area, where mostly locals go!
While not as close as I thought it would be, it's still nice to be in a residential area where locals live: you avoid crowds and noise from tourists, while having a taste of Florence's every day life!
YOU SHOULD KNOW that right next door, there's a cafe. It is not mentioned anywhere, but they open early and THEY ARE LOUD! Expect to be awaken before 8am and hear the locals shout and laugh until about 9am. So if you expect to sleep late in the mornings, forget about it. This is not Donella's fault however, so I can't blame her. Only wished it would've been mentioned somewhere other than in reviews.
I have a sensitive nose and was annoyed, on the first day, by the smell of humidity and "mold" from the washing machine. Don't get me wrong, the place is sparkling clean! Florence is somewhat a humide place and the apartment doesn't get much wind or sun. If you ever had one of those first generation frontal load washer, you know what smell I'm talking about...
Donella filled a jar with candies and a basket with cookies and crackers. She left us orange juice in the fridge and even got us a bottle of local wine, that we enjoyed in the small yard with local prosciutto and cheese bought at a market not so far from the apartment. It was really nice of her :)
Thank you Donella and Nora !