Ella's flat in Harlem is a gem. It is in a very quiet street, a very quiet, clean and safe building and the windows do not go out on the street, which is why it is very quiet, which is very rare to find. The location is awesome: 6 minutes on foot from the 1 train, which takes you to Times Square, the Theatre District, Wall Street, the World Trade Centre Memorial, etc. We flew to Chicago from La Guardia airport, and the bus is very easy to take in the 125th street, where the 1 train takes you. There is a lovely supermarket a 2 minutes' walk away from Ella's flat that sells good quality food, fruit and vegetables. A post-office is nearby, many dry cleaner's. The whole area felt very safe at any time of the day and the night.
The flat has a very spacious feel about it: a huge living-room with a telly, two big bedrooms with proper double beds and very comfortable mattresses and bedclothes. We immediately opened the windows when we reached the flat and switched off the air-conditioning Ella had so kindly switched on for us. In one of the bedrooms, you could create a current of cool air as the windows were in different walls. We spent 5 superb quiet nights!
There is a big, very well equipped kitchen. You can use the oven, the microwave, the coffeemaker (Ella had left us some ground coffee and filters), and the cooker (we cooked an omelette one morning). There is a table for eating in the living room, or rather the part of it that qualifies as a dining room.
There is very good water pressure in the bathroom so you can take a hot shower any time.
I was looking for a quiet flat with two bedrooms so both of us, my friend and myself, could sleep in their own double bed. There are not too many options with these parameters. Granted, Ella's flat is not on, or next to, Times Square, but we were very happy and relieved to get back every night to our peace heaven taking the bus, which allows you to to see New York, walking when we had time (again, safety was no issue even past midnight), or taking the 1 train when we wanted to go to bed as soon as possible.
When I go back to New York, if Ella's flat is available, I will be very, very happy to go back without the slightest hesitation. Thank you, Ella!