Monterrey is modern and progressive, a
fact that is reflected in the futuristic architectural style. The Macro Plaza in
downtown Monterrey was built on a forty-acre site. The square is all fountains, statues
and parks surrounded by modern buildings. What the city lacks in terms of natural beauty,
it makes up with its modernity. Monterrey’s advanced financial learning institute, the
Technological Institute of Superior Studies, referred to as El Tec, is comparable to
the best the world has to offer.
Monterrey is 834 km from Guadalajara with a travel distance of 11hours.
Chihuahua at 818 km is a 10 hours journey. A travel of 12 hours will take you the 957 km
to Monterrey from Mexico City. Monterrey has a domestic airport that has regular flights
to Guadalajara, Mexico City and Chihuahua.
Interesting places to visit are the Zaragoza Plaza near the Macro Plaza where
General Zaragoza is honoured with a sculpture. There is also the Metropolitan Cathedral
dating to the seventeenth century in the Macro plaza. The monumental bronze figure `La
Paloma’ (the dove) made by Juan Soriano is on display at the Contemporary Art
Museum (MARCO). Besides this, there is the City Theatre, Mexican History Museum
and the Museum of Monterrey. The museum includes famous paintings, drawings and
photographs. Works by Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, Jose Clemente Orozco, Diego Rivera, Dr.
Alt, Wilfredo Lam, Roberto Matta grace its rooms. The "Faro de Comercio" (Trade
Light tower) and "Parque Hundido" (Sunken Park) adds a different charm to the
city.
The two best city getaways are the town of Agua Leguas, with its
magnificent "lienzo charro" (Mexican rodeo), one of the best in the country and Linares,
with its charming architecture and the beautiful waterfall, "Cola de Caballo".
Popular Mexican food in Monterrey is "cabrito al pastor" (spicy
baby goat) served with pork and beans and flour tortillas and dry meat especially the
"machacado" (dried meat) prepared with lemon and guacamole. It is eaten as a
snack. Other Mexican delicacies are "cortadillo de cabrito" (baby goat, cooked
in its blood), grilled beef, "zaraza" meat (pork and guacamole), "carne
agracera" (charbroiled beef) "fritada" (sheep entrails), pork head, sweet
tamales, cakes and pastries. Drinks that should not be missed here are the
"mezcal", "pulque", and "aguamiel" (distilled spirits from
cactus) and the regional beer.
The produce of the region that you can take home are textiles, pottery,
modern ceramics, blown glass and wrought iron, as well as paper mache, artificial flowers,
baskets, rugs made of "ixtle" (a vegetable fibre) and bull horns decorated and
with leather. The best buy however are leather articles related to "charreria"
the Mexican rodeo, such as jackets, vests, jeans, handbags, pistol holsters, belts,
purses, as well as all the equipment for horseback riding.
For detailed country information, see
