We exchanged several emails before our arrival but Kristina was actually traveling throughout the time we stayed at her place. No matter though. We got the code for the door in email, and easily let ourselves in to find the place as funky as the pictures showed it to be. We especially liked the kitchen with its original cottage stove, cupboards and sink, in perfect condition.

The real plus for us was the location. What a lovely surprise to find that the quiet walk street was a lovely neighborhood all its own, with little cottages interspersed with new and interesting modern homes. We walked and walked up and down all the neighboring walk streets, peering in to yards and windows and imagining what it would be like to live there. And we loved the interesting shops on Lincoln Blvd, near to great food at Superba and a coffee/florist/gift shop called Flower Boy Project, which even had my favorite matcha lattes.

Though we tried to walk everywhere we did have a rental car and had no problem finding parking during the week on Palms Blvd. And we remembered to move the car to the opposite side for street cleaning (just check the signs for which day it is).

We'll be back the next time we visit our son in Santa Monica.