The Avinguda del Paral.lel location is ideal for someone who likes cities. On the seam between two vibrant neighborhoods (Sant Antoni and Poble Sec), the boulevard feels like a barrio in its own right, with an active street life full of people from all over the globe, living their best lives at a short remove from the tourism clogging nearby Ciutat Vella. The hillside park and gardens of Montjuïc are just behind, ready for exploration.
The apartment is convenient to many shops, including a decent grocery store on the ground floor of the building, another one around the corner, and the Mercat Sant Antoni a few block's walk up the pleasant traffic-calmed Carrer del Compte Borell. Bars, granjas, cafes, and eating spots both everyday and exceptional abound.
The more touristed parts of the city are just a few minutes away on foot. The building is conveniently located between two metro stations, with access to two metro lines, as well as to the funicular that takes you up Montjuïc (on days you may prefer not to climb). Several bus lines frequent the stop just outside the entrance to the building. A few more originate and end just around the corner.
The apartment itself is spacious, with a good layout, and lot of light. The living area and one of the bedrooms face north, toward the avenue, while the other three bedrooms and one of the bathrooms look west. Furnishings are simple, comfortable, and in good taste.
The apartment has been recently renovated, with new kitchen appliances, bathroom fittings, etc. But one does need to take into account that the building itself dates from the seventies, when people did not have AC in every room (if at all), and not nearly as many devices plugged in as folks have become accustomed to these days.
Accordingly, one needs to be mindful about how many appliances one may have going at any one time, so as not to blow the fuse. It's not a tragedy if you do; the fuse box is located next to the apartment's front door; the internet router usually comes back again fairly quickly, but the refrigerator will scream-beep every five minutes for the next half hour or so.
The elevator is also old-school, and one has to be careful to ensure the door is completely closed upon exiting or it will get hung up (looking at you, people on the fifth floor). One needs to be vigilant so as not to inconvenience others in the building. It's also as good a reason as any to befriend the neighbors, in case one needs to contact someone on one of the upper floors, via street intercom, and ask their help to get it unstuck.
Victor is great and has earned his "superhost" rating. He was quick and conscientious to sort any problems with the apartment as they came up.