Alvaro was a great host. He met us on arrival, showed us round and was generally very welcoming. Seems very cultured and quite passionate about recommending only authentic restaurants, bars, music, etc, all of which proved excellent. The apartment itself is amazingly spacious, with big patio doors opening out onto the lovely Plaza de los Carros. A fantastic location for exploring old Madrid, Plaza Mayor, Sol, the Rastro, Royal Palace, etc.