Luis and Gemma were the best hosts ever. We (my best friend and I) stayed in their apartment for 11 days. We never met Luis but communicated with him via WhatsApp and he responded quickly. This was great, especially when letting him know that our plane landed or when I forgot how to use the washing machine. He gave us heads up when there was a holiday and he knew that museums would be closed. Gemma met us the first day to show us the apartment and the last day when we returned the key. She was wonderful, told us to be careful on the metro and at tourist attractions, and on the day we were leaving we had a wonderful conversation with her. We would keep talking but we had a plane to catch. Wish had time to go to the Hemingway Gin and Cocktail bar with her. We felt that we could ask our hosts anything and no question would be too stupid, on the apartment or on touristy things.
Ok, the apartment: it was great. This is a great location and the apartment has everything you need. We cooked all our breakfasts and sometimes other meals here. The caffeine addict in me was happy since they had several versions of coffee, tea, and sugar. We found the apartment to be comfortable, clean, and filled with everything we needed. One rainy day, when museums were closed, we hanged out at home, did laundry, cooked some, watched some DVDs (in english) and made the occasional run in the rain to the local Mexican restaurant. There is also a vegan restaurant with delicious vegan burgers a few blocks away "La Trocadero". There are a bunch of little grocery stores on every block and produce stores but there is also a very big store with everything; Keisy. It is on a corner of Padilla and Valencia with orange sign. They have gluten free bread, and vegan food options, as well all the other food, and the selection is better then most places. The Sagrada familia market is another good one to go to for ready to eat food and for raw food for cooking with stalls of various categories. There are at least 2 metro stations really close by and the bus route is right on Arago street. You buy the ticket at the metro station and you use the same one for the bus.
We hope to come back in a few years and when we do we are staying in Louis' and Gemma's apartment again.