Ricardo and Vivianne were exceptionally gracious and hospitable hosts. They (in large part) made our vacation in Spain extra special. We knew we were in the right place when we were greeted warmly in their lovely apartment with a bottle of bubbly. Vivanne went above and beyond to make us feel at home and comfortable from the outset. The house was immaculate and was tastefully decorated. She allocated spaces in the fridge and in her cabinets for our use -- which is great considering all the interesting fresh markets, speciality food purveyors and other vendors just blocks away that we patronized. The shower was modern and functioned perfectly. We even used the on-premises laundry. The coolest feature is the 270 degree terrace, which is like a separate outdoor apartment -- it had a couch, dining table, hammock and nice breezes.
Ricardo and Vivianne speak excellent English and have spent significant time in the US. They are thus attuned to US guests' tastes, customs and interests -- though I'm sure they are great hosts for anyone from anywhere. They also acknowledge the Catalonian/Spanish language challenge that confronts all visitors to the region (which isn't that big a deal if you don't speak either!). We had a great time engaging in the Barcelona lifestyle with them -- late, long dinners with mixed drinks, lively conversation and educational discourse about European politics and economics. They also gave us excellent restaurant recs and tourist tips. Major attractions in Barcelona were no more than a few to a dozen stops away on the closest Metro line to their apt (about 5-10 min walk).

In summary, Ricardo and Vivenne were ideal hosts for the two of us. We feel fortunate to have connected with them!