There is something poetic about sitting in my beautiful room at Canto da Carambola, this last evening of my second stay here. I look outside my window in wonderment at the ease with which the colours of the house, the finely crafted aesthetics combining the most beautiful plants, found-objects given second leases to life in the most creative ways, and the genuinely vintage building itself, with high ceilings and an immense sense of space, seem to effortlessly merge into the gentle evening light of Santa Teresa. And i know that every time i return to Rio, this will be my home. Canto da Carambola is located in perhaps the perfect spot in Santa Teresa, itself, in my opinion, the most beautiful part of Rio, being right between the more local Largo das Neves, and the spot where the local world merges with the tourist world, Bar do Gomes. Each of these is a 5 to 8 minute walk away, while Largo do Guimaraes, the most touristy part with several bars and specialist eateries is an additional 8 minute walk away from Gomes. Spectacular views of Rio, especially at night, simply creep up on you from unremarked corners as you walk around this area. The house itself has a sense of a love of things, of preservation, of living history. Each of the big rooms is a treat full of beautiful old furniture, little objects that tell stories of times and places far away. The courtyard at the back, is so aesthetically pleasing, and quiet that i chose this spot to shoot videos of lectures that i had to deliver to students at University back home. the courtyard looks out over an impressive view of parts of Rio, as also a thick garden where Miro, a biologist by training, grows secret fruits that have long disappeared from markets in Rio. While most BnBs in Rio offer almost precisely the same breakfasts - bread, ham, cheese, some cereal etc., at Carambola i got accustomed to waking up every morning with an excitement at what Miro and Segrio might have cooked up - breakfast specialities from different parts of Brasil, the random new fruit that one simply has to try, to experience the diversity of life - each of these always with stories, histories and a smile. I was truly impressed with the fact that few things were ever repeated - and I stayed more than a month! Miro and Sergio, the hosts, along with their dogs and cats (and a family of the cutest little monkeys that visits their garden in the morning for fruit treats) gave me a true sense of home, with warmth, laughter and several interesting conversations. I not simply recommend Canto da Carambola to everyone visiting Rio, but hope to actually bring friends and loved ones here to experience this little treasure, this 'corner' tucked away on a hill, far far away!…