Like being fleetingly inserted into the inner city life of a modern Madrid inhabiant, the most personal and precious of travel experiences is the opportunity to live like a local. Staying in Maria's opulent inner city home was like seeing, smelling and tasting Madrid through her senses. From the first glimpse of her smiling face greeting us at the front door to her passing on secrets only a local would know, Maria was the perfect host. Her immaculately presented, spacious, spotless, quiet, clean and sophisticated space is an oasis to soothe the weary traveller, where you can choose to be a get into, or escape from, the ageless city. Treat it with respect for it is her home and it too can be yours for the briefest but most precious time. Muchos gracias Maria.