PROS: elegant old, large apartment in a quiet location beside a beautiful park, a short walk to the old-city neighbourhoods famous for atmospheric food and hip shops. Fascinating architectural views with peeks out to distant hillsides make for good sunsets. Good/effective communication with the property management company. CONS: does not have any of the vibes of a real home, but rather a spartan/spooky vacation rental (you may know the type: earnest attempts made with sparse decor from a Chinese discount shop, power/hot water utilities malfunctioning as if they haven't been used in a long time). Low-level dangers: kitchen's cheapest-possible kettle threw the electrical breakers the two times it was used (second after reassurance it was now okay, following emergency repairs made to the breaker box; appreciably, the hosts did send the repairman ASAP). That kettle and a partly-broken coffee maker (indicator light burnt out; cannot be switched off) are hazardous -- real fire risks no careful person would ever allow in their home. So even if these appliances get replaced, these just examples of what's so often weird and wrong about vacation rentals. Next time in Barca I will search out a real "home" to avoid the bleak feelings of an overpriced underloved "unit".