We were in Barcelona for one day when Spain announced the State of Alarm (lockdown) for Covid-19 in mid-March. With a return flight in mid-May out of Portugal (and the borders closing), we realized that we could expect to be in Barcelona for much longer than anticipated. We found Marc's apartment to offer a very comfortable option for us, and he was flexible and communicative during our entire stay (which we ultimately extended more than once to address the unfolding situation). He accommodated our last minute request to move in, and we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted with bottled water and wine already waiting for us in the kitchen.
No one comes to Barcelona as a tourist and expects to stay in the apartment 24/7 with only an occasional outing to a grocery store for food. But if one ends up in this unique situation, Marc's place was a perfect home away from home. Having certain luxuries like a full kitchen, washer/dryer combo, two bathrooms (including a jetted tub), televisions in each bedroom as well as the main living quarters, and 3 AC/Heating units throughout the apartment were all very much appreciated. The refrigerator/freezer was large enough that we did not have to shop too frequently. And, with the exception of occasional delivery via UberEats, we were easily able to make all of our meals. It was very convenient to have so many stores within easy walking distance - Lidl, Consum, Bon Preu, and several convenience stores and pharmacies. The shopping cart provided with the apartment made larger purchases much easier and we nearly fit right in with the locals!
We took advantage of the morning sun on the balcony whenever we could, enjoying an espresso with the Nespresso machine and the smells from the bakery just two stories below the balcony. Every night at 8pm we were able to join our neighbors on the balcony and cheer all the personnel working the front lines on the fight against Covid-19. We were able to stream our Netflix account via a VPN and had weekly Zoom group chats with extended family back in California. We lived like the locals and enjoyed watching the leaves on the trees outside the balcony come in as Barcelona changed from winter to spring.
All-in-all, we have made a lifetime memory from our stay in Marc's place during the pandemic of 2020. We felt safe and comfortable, and it was reassuring to have such an easy-going and understanding host during such a difficult time in the world. It was not the trip we planned, but we will hopefully come back to Spain again in the future to enjoy so much that we missed. When we do, Marc's apartment will be the top of our list for a return stay.