Our hosts went out of their way to make our arrival smooth, after the previous guests - immature and selfish - had refused to leave on time and barred the cleaner from entry. You access this beautiful apartment from a typical Barcelona square - restaurants, bars & shops - by gliding up in a little lift or walking up the handsome stone staircase to a big old wooden door with brass fittings. Then you find yourself in a light, bright apartment, with an elegantly-styled living area and a small balcony that not only overlooks the square (which is quiet, with no through traffic, so is regularly visited by local families, their older folk and their children) with an excellent view of the Sagrada Familia just two streets away! A small but perfectly adequate kitchen, a modern bathroom and two bedrooms with built-in wardrobes made it easy to return from each day's excursions to refresh ourselves and head out again, or, in our case, savour the cool, air-conditioned amenity of the apartment. We visited in July, so this was thoroughly appreciated. Four of us (two retired couples on an arts odyssey) visited and unfortunately one of our party caught a nasty cold. She was referred for medical attention to the hospital (not far away) and subsequently remained indoors during the hottest part of the day. We were left feeling grateful that we had chosen so well in terms of the apartment, its location and its amenities. The kitchen was well-equipped and there were basic supplies available in the apartment when we arrived (and we left some of our own for the next guests). We loved Barcelona and - largely because of the apartment - would certainly return. So, despite an initial hiccup - no fault of the hosts - we say 'thank you' Anna & Vince from four happy Australians who had travelled half way round the world to experience the art of Spain, and who loved living in your city and your home.