Isabel really is a super host. She welcomed me at 11:30pm with a big smile and was there to say goodbye when I left 8 days later. The entire experience was like staying with an old friend - super relaxed and easy - and she facilitated and enriched my trip with her local insight. Was a pleasure to chat about life when we were home together but I felt completely free to come and go as I pleased.
The apartment is well located - great food market, coffee shop, Reina Sofia Museum (Guernica) and metro station Anton Martin all moments away. Isabel is advertising a room but in effect it is half of a very spacious apartment. Isabel's "half" is at the other end of the apartment so you have a lot of privacy. Bedroom and private living room are simple but comfortable, and very spacious. Comfortable bed, good hot shower, well-equipped kitchen.
Things to note: Madrid gets very hot in the summer and the room had no Aircon or fan. Opening the balcony doors gives a little air movement, but it still gets very hot. I don't like to sleep with air con but a fan would have been nice on the hotter nights. With the open balcony doors and the cool bars around the apartment, you hear people talking/singing in the street below. I slept with ear plugs so was not disturbed.
Overall Isabel's place was exactly what I wanted: It helped me to get under the skin of Madrid in a way that a hotel or entire Air BnB would not have allowed; it was good value; I was able to cook; and I made a friend in Isabel who I look forward to seeing again.
Muchas gracias, Isabel!