This apartment is very comfortable and Elizabeth and Juan and Ricardo were helpful and polite. The bedroom and living room are spacious and comfortable. Plenty of space is available for organizing your belongings, hanging your clothes, etc. As a writer, I liked sitting at the table or on the coach, where I could comfortably work for hours. The shower is easy to work with and has reliable temperature control, great for a quick rinse, which, in downtown Madrid in the summer, is something you want to do often! The whole place is very, very clean. The air conditioning worked well. The apartment has everything you need for simple cooking, and a nice washing machine, drying rack and iron. Really, there was not one thing in the apartment that disappointed! I am very sensitive to noise. It's not a silent apartment, but the sounds from the street and neighbors were in the normal range, and didn't bother me. Folks in the building were friendly and polite. Across the street is a neat old bookstore where I found a poetry edition I've been looking for for years! On the block is a traditional neighborhood bar/tapas joint where people from all over the world congregate. Also on the block, several little "bodega" stores for water, milk, candy... In the next block down is Mama Ibis, a much storied and friendly café, great for reading or writing. Gran Via is steps away, with big, upscale restaurants and famous bars. The walk to the Prado takes about 20 minutes. The apartment's location is central, so it is easy to discover the city from this home base. Despite being very close to the bustle of Gran Via and the lively scene of Chueca, this apartment, with three locked doors between it and the street, feels very secure. Well, Madrid is generally a safe city, but as a single woman it is important to feel comfortable coming home, and I always did. It really felt like home in Madrid, and I look forward to returning to this apartment as soon as I can!