Guliz's lovely home in Istanbul was absolutely perfect and exactly as described. She greeted me when I arrived and invited me to go to an art opening with her and her sister (unfortunately I was too tired from my trip to accept). The room itself is lovely: spacious and airy, very tastefully decorated and comfy, and quiet. I slept restfully and loved waking up in the morning and opening the porch off the room to hear the sounds of Cihangir (mostly gulls and pedestrian traffic). Guliz's apartment is super clean, which is exactly what I wanted, but also has a wonderfully cozy lived-in feel, so you get a sense of Guliz and her family, some of whom live on the same street. I loved all the framed Turkish movie posters, multi-color throw rugs, and spilling-over bookshelves. As a PhD in French history I've spent a lot of time on the Left Bank in Paris and Guliz's apartment had a similar feel. The bathroom had a nice shower with ample hot water, and the kitchen is spic-and-span and fully equipped. Guliz showed me how everything worked and made coffee for me on my first morning there. (I should note that the elections were happening the weekend I was there and Guliz was a fascinating perspective on politics in Turkey. She's really interesting, with many interests). The neighborhood of Cihangir itself is charming (as is well advertised in guide books now, but still: it's all true). There were several cafes nearby (I tried Kronotrop a few times), restaurants, shops, and small green spaces to sit down in. Cobblestone streets wind past antique shops but also businesses selling garden stones and ersatz antiquities. And it's a very short walk to Taksim, Galata Bridge, Istiklal Caddesi, and Kabatas (from where I caught a boat to spend a half-day on one of the Prince's Islands). I can't highly recommend this place enough and hope to come back within the next couple years!