My stay at Sandra's was WONDERFUL. I feel so foolish because I booked my first week in DC in a hotel, and the second week at Sandra's simply because I didn't think of looking for an AirBnB place first. My stay was so wonderful, I'm already trying to figure out when I can come back just to see Sandra again!
First, Sandra's home is ideally located. I was in DC as a researcher in the Library of Congress which was about a 10 minutes walk. So if you want to see the sights in DC, this is a perfect place to stay. She is just a block away from the Eastern Market and a number of very nice little local bars and restaurants, and just a couple blocks away from a veritable DC breakfast institution, Johnny T.'s where I had my breakfast and coffee each morning. She very helpfully had a little package about living there that included the best local spots for breakfast, cheap eats, buffet, and local bars. It is also just one block away from the Eastern Market rail station, which also runs straight to Reagan International on the Blue Line. If you are traveling light like I was you can get to Sandra's and see DC without ever being in a car.
Second, the home is wonderful. It is a beautiful row house, with a wonderful little garden, and I admired all the original features from the door knobs, heating elements, to the beautiful bathroom fixtures. The home has wood floors throughout and some very striking art on the walls and gorgeous rugs on the floors. There is a very quiet (small) dog and a very large black cat, but I did not see a single animal hair and the house is entirely odor free.
Finally, Sandra is amazing. My biggest regret is I did not spend more time with her my first couple of days. She is unobtrusive, which I really appreciate because I always feel a little awkward staying in someone else's home. However, she made me immediately feel very comfortable, and I immediately felt both safe and respected. I'm a thirty-something world-traveling man, but I think that a woman traveling alone would really feel comfortable here. But Sandra is amazing. In her early 20s, she traveled the world, and today is a very informed about what is happening in the world. She is a great conversationalist, with both amazing experiences and insights.
I've already made up my mind to come back to DC for at least a few days, with my wife, next summer to stay and Sandra's place (I was traveling alone this time, and my wife has never been to DC) but I'm trying to talk my Mom and Dad, who are in their late sixties, in coming with me. Sandra made me feel like part of her family, so we've decided just to fold her into ours.