Laurie’s place is a gem, perfectly located in prime Park Slope, which is basically New York’s version of Islington. The house is a quirky, older home, warm and welcoming. Laurie is an extremely interesting person, friendly, knowledgeable and delighted to chat about everything from the locality to the state of the world. The upstairs rear bedroom I had was quiet and comfortable - I slept particularly well. It’s probably worth noting that the house could be tricky for anyone not steady on their feet as the stairs are narrow and steep. But don’t worry about taking bags up there - Laurie is more than happy to let guests keep heavy bags downstairs. The bathroom is shared if there’s another guest in residence, but the arrangement wasn’t at all stressful - and even though the plumbing isn’t in it’s salad days, the shower is super powerful in the best American tradition - which was a pleasure each morning. Highly recommended, an easy subway trip to the varied neighbourhoods of Brooklyn and to Manhattan beyond.