The coordinated terrorist bombings of trains in Madrid not only killed 201 people and sickened a nation and the world, but they changed the likely outcome of a national election and drove the ruling party from power. For travelers interested in Spain, there are few lessons to be gleaned from this. Spain is most likely no more dangerous now than it was before the bombings, and may be safer since the perpetrators are unlikely to stage another attack. Canceling plans to travel to Spain would be to cheat yourself out of a possibly life-changing experience, and would short-change the Spanish, who could use your support.
