We arrived as guests and left as friends. From the moment we opened the beautiful, heavy wooden door to the attic apartment on the top floor, we felt welcome. A lovely bottle of Spanish red wine was waiting on the counter; the aromatic pods for our morning coffee were ready next to the coffee machine; the fridge was stocked with yoghurt, butter, juice and jam.
The apartment is light and spacious; tastefully and creatively decorated. The roof top terrace, where we took breaks from a hectic schedule, has a view to the spires and cranes of the Sagrada Familia in the distance.
During the course of our stay I discovered exactly how central this apartment is. The historic landmarks of the Gothic Quarter is a ten-minute walk away. La Rambla is a 12-minute walk away. The performances at the magnificent Palau de la Musica concert hall are 750 meters away. The Urquinoana metro is a block away. Ten outlet shops selling Scotch and Soda, Mango and other brands at a faction of the price are literally on the adjacent block. You literally pop just around the corner to the well-stocked supermarket.
Laia offered us more than physical amenities. She offered us warmth, caring and insights into Catalan culture, which I found very valuable. And we LOVED her kids.