Frommer's Madrid
Chapter One
The Best of Madrid
Madrid is on a roll. Never a city to let the grass grow under its feet, the Spanish capital
is experiencing unprecedented change thanks to the efforts of the visionary mayor
Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón-a man compared by some, however tongue in cheek, to a
pharaoh. In 2005 the mayor launched a new 7-year city program aimed at transforming
the capital into a world-class cosmopolitan center, with improved Metro and rail
transport and the expansion of new barrios, or districts, especially in the north of the
city where a tren ligero (a smaller, streamlined Talgo-shaped tram similar to those successfully
operating in Bilbao) is scheduled to be in operation by spring 2007. Though
the completion of all this work was originally timed to coincide with Madrid's
expected nomination as venue for the 2012 Olympics, the city's disbelief at being
beaten for the honor by London was quickly forgotten (maudlin introspection is not
part of the feisty Madrileno temperament). In fact, many completion schedules have
been brought forward to coincide with the ... read full excerpt from Frommer's Madrid ebook
