?Habla ingles? Clifton Chestnut teaches language in Madrid.

MADRID IS AN URBAN LOVER'S DREAM. Sophisticated, affluent, and cultured, it is Spain's economic center and one of the most important cities in the European Union. And according to !esMADRID! (www.esmadrid.com), which promotes the city's tourism and business potential to visitors and companies, roughly 15% of Madrid's workforce is comprised of foreign nationals. Clifton Chestnut, a former education reporter for The Oregonian in Portland, Oregon, is one of them.

Chestnut, who teaches English to corporate executives and employees for global firms such as Ernst & Young, KPMG, and Aon Corp., visited Madrid during his vacation four years ago. "I instantly felt like I fit in. I wanted to experience living in a different culture, and it seemed like the place to be."

Tourism is a key elemen of this Iberian city's financial health, as Spain is the second most visited country in the world. This year's massive expansion of Madrid Barajas Airport--which doubled its flight capacity and added a new terminal--further cements this fast-growing city's role as a global transportation hub.

Once they learn the political and cultural landscape, entrepreneurs can thrive if they "come up with a fresh idea, something that doesn't exist here," says Chestnut, who until recently co-owned a cafe near Plaza de Espana. He plans to launch a language consulting business. "There's no end to the demand because everyone wants to learn English." Here, Chestnut schools us on the finer side of this thriving metropolis.