Absolutely a safe, great, central location to explore the city from. A short walk to the metro and public transportation. Lots of little shops and markets nearby. Scott was a very responsive and accommodating host, with an extensive list of recommendations and information.
The space is large and funky, I liked all the masculine art. As large as it is, it's a bit cramped due to too much furniture and clutter. It can be a bit noisy from foot traffic, the water pump, and the morning cleaning crew (luckily they only came once during my visit). Having a washer in the apartment was so nice!