Erin's place was immaculate. A lovely shotgun (i.e. long and narrow) home right in the heart of Mid City.

Upon arrival I was greeted by Erin who showed me where I would be staying for the next week. It's a private room that is attached to the rest of the house in the back. It has a separate entrance and door, so you get your own key, which gives you all the privacy you need. The bathroom is roomy, with a nice shower and plenty of hot water. There's even face wash, shampoo, conditioner and body wash to use.

Erin really put a lot of thought into decorating and supplying the room, with little snacks and drinks, a couple of bathrobes, a personal coffee maker and a booklet with helpful tips on local places to eat and drink. It was a good hybrid of coziness and hotel amenities.

Because it is an attached room to the rest of the house, you do hear everything between the two rooms. This didn't bother me but it might be bothersome if you're looking for total peace and quiet.

To give you some context for the location, Mid City is about a 10 minute car ride from the French Quarter where everything is happening, including the conference I was in town for. You can get there easily enough by taking the street care, which is only a couple of blocks from Erin's place and is $1.25 for a one-way trip (exact change, so I recommend keeping some quarters and dollar bills for just this).

As Erin instructs, I wouldn't walk from the French Quarter back home, but cabs are easy enough to find. Catching a cab from her house, or along Canal Street where the streetcar runs was hit or miss, so expect to either call a cab or leave plenty of time to catch the streetcar into the Quarter, which come every 15 or 20 minutes.

The local bars and pubs around Erin's place are very "local" and cool, although, some (e.g. my parents) would consider them a little dodgy. I went to one my first night and had a great night drinking and eating on the patio out front. I was told by the bartender that that's the real New Orleans, not the Bourbon Street affair everybody goes to. I'd agree.

Overall, a lovely place and a great trip.

Thanks Erin!