Rosa's place is conveniently located, only a couple of minutes walk from Greenpoint Avenue Subway on the Brooklyn-Queens Crosstown line (G). Take the two stops from Greenpoint to Court Square and there are swift connections into Manhattan from there. The surrounding neighbourhood is diverse, bohemian and trendy, located in the heart of NYC's Polish community. There is a particularly good range of restaurants, cafes and craft beer pubs nearby, as well as some good parks and walking routes.
Rosa had contacted me beforehand to find out my estimated arrival time, so I didn't encounter any problems with check-in. Her place is on the third floor of an old tenement-style building. It's quite tricky getting up the stairs if you have heavy cases, and the communal areas are a bit worn and shabby, but the apartment itself is very nice; traditional, artsy and with a lot of character.
I was staying in a front room with sliding doors that opened onto a study/living room area, although it didn't seem to be used much while I was staying, so I never got disturbed. The bed was comfortable and fresh linen and towels provided, whilst the bathroom is just along the corridor and was always kept clean and tidy. The lock into the apartment can be a bit fiddly but is just one of the quirks of the building. There is no washing machine, but a reasonably-priced laundromat is conveniently located on the other side of the road, which also has a bar and retro pinball tables out back!
Rosa was very welcoming and gave some useful advice and tips about the local area. I didn't see her much during my stay as I was out sightseeing most of the day, but she was always helpful and friendly. I got quality undisturbed sleep, had a comfortable bed, hot shower, and there were plenty of local amenities and lots to see and do in the neighbourhood, so overall it was a very pleasant stay.