| |
Guide to Monterrey, Mexico
|
Click to go to Flight Prices for Monterrey
|
MonterreyMonterrey
There seems to be only one word fit to describe the city lucky to have the peaks of Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain) watching its every move: Hermoso. Beautiful; exceptional; bello; bellisimo. However you put it, Monterrey, Mexico, is deserving of it all (as long as they're complimentary), and though you'll hardly find it all here (Mexico City does a much better job in the way of variety), you can bet that when you travel from vista to vista, a great deal of satisfaction comes from the simple pleasures of the city, whether the lovely surprises and anecdotes are found within the downtown area or from a vantage point overlooking the metropolis as a whole. Walking through the Barrio Antiguo and Colon Market, you'll get genuine, old colonial Mexico, and with Gran Plaza nearby, you'll have access to just about every other part of the city, going to and fro various places with minimal trouble. You may wish to stick around Gran Plaza a bit longer than locals do, however, what with the beautiful city cathedral sitting amongst mostly modern establishments, and even the museum annex within the adjacent Zaragoza Plaza is within walking distance. Thanks to the infrastructure of the Monterrey's metro rail system, getting about the city is easier than navigating some of the larger metropolitan areas within the nation. With most commuters taking public transportation, widespread congestion is a non-issue here. Despite peoples' undying fancy with the historic and gems from the past, Monterrey does have plenty of tokens for the modernist in all of us as well. Take to its industrial and commercial sectors and you'll see so many high rises with panes of glass and soaring concrete slabs that you may even find the contrasts of the metropolis's old and new towns to be quite shocking. Nonetheless, Monterrey's supply of attractions ordinarily exceeds visitors' expectations, making it much too wonderful to dislike.
When to go:
Just miles from the famed Rio Grande, Monterrey benefits from a mostly temperate climate swimming around the ether above much of northeastern Mexico. The winds generated with the help of Saddle Mountains, sweeping over the region, bring much needed respite on those especially heated days in mid-July and August. If you're not too keen on sporting a nose dabbled with an SPF-laden cream, spring and/or autumn both provide lots of sunlight, ample daytime hours, and a valley full of color, not to mention the great array of festivities lining all or various streets of particular communities.
Getting there and around:
Distant enough to ensure the city of Monterrey a comfortable mean decibel level, General M Escobedo Airport is roughly a 1/2-hour drive from most hotels within the metropolitan area, though we advise you leave at least an hour-long open window for travel between downtown Monterrey and the flight terminal, particularly at high traffic points of the day. There do exist parking garages around Monterrey, but with many locals owning vehicles and most public transportation services running at or near peak operating limits, you'll find it quite a challenged navigating the grid, and an almost complete waste of time looking for vacant spaces. Though boarding a bus in Monterrey will certainly make you feel more like a stranger than simply a visitor, you'll save mucho dinero and be able to stick to your itinerary.
Attractions:
If the Regiomontanos (what locals enjoy referring to themselves as) have taught you everything you need to know about Monterrey, and would like to see more than Colon Market, the Gran Plaza's provisions, and the city's gorgeous antique neighborhood, a visit to Monterrey's neighbor, Chipinque Mesa, is a great activity to add to your list. You'll obtain fantastic views, see the Cascada Cola de Caballo (waterfalls), and you can even go on a cable-car ride to the summit.
|
|
|
