Taste of Monterrey
Summer is almost at an end and I must confess, I feel like I have spent the whole season pining over the vacation pictures people have been posting. I would have loved to go somewhere exotic and exciting to escape the heat in our area. We are saving our vacation for later in the year and for now, I have been reminiscing over past adventures we have enjoyed.
Last summer we had the opportunity to go to Monterrey for a friend’s wedding (which was a year ago this weekend!) and we had a blast! It was a quick trip but it was lovely and we enjoyed every minute. This week I wanted to share our favorite parts of traveling through the city and to give you a taste of what we loved most and what we learned to avoid in the future.
Places to Go:
Barrio Antiguo: We went to the old part of the city to explore after most of our group had already left and I think it was my favorite part! Vendors had set up on the cobblestone streets when we were there and we were serenaded by street musicians. My sweet husband found a cafe/bookshop that sat right across from where artisans arranged their work and to say I was in heaven is an understatement. We stopped and ate at La Sirena Embarazada (which translates to The Pregnant Mermaid) while we explored and I was in love with the whole experience.
City Center: The old part of the city is not far from the city center and we walked to several museums and enjoyed Museo de Historia Mexicana very much. There are many statues and fountains throughout the square and we had fun walking through the center and looking at each. We happened to go on a weekend that there was a festival in the city center (the Macroplaza) that featured a large dance class during the day, a drumming competition, and all the lights and music in the evening that should accompany a good party. We stopped for Argentinean ice cream on our way home and watched Tango dancers in the street. Altogether lovely!
National Parks: There are several national parks in Monterrey and they are absolutely worth visiting! We didn’t have time to hike up any of the mountains as we had wanted but we took an uber to a top lookout point and it was stunning. Even if you don’t enjoy hiking or walking, the view alone is worth it.
River Walk: I did not realize this before arriving in Monterrey but there is a lovely area along the river that is lined with restaurants and space to walk and enjoy. The river has string lights stretched across the water and it is stunning. One of our friends knew about the area and suggested the spot for dinner and we all felt whisked away to a magical escape.
Tips for Travel:
Uber: We used Uber the entire time we were there and it was incredibly cheap compared to what we are used to in Dallas! Every driver we had was courteous and many of them spoke English.
Accommodations: We made our housing arrangements last minute and as we were only going for a weekend, we decided to consider AirBnB as it was the most cost effective option. We found a space close to the area we needed for the wedding, it was clean and spacious and the hosts were quick to respond when we needed something. We felt safe the entire time and we would absolutely do it again.
Paleteria: Please learn from my mistakes, if you buy Paleta in the cup, use the microwave across from the cashier to heat it up before you leave. Otherwise you will be waiting for it to melt for the entire day and will be taking it along with you on hikes and such. So fun.
General Wisdom: Another lesson to learn from my mistakes, make sure you have a phone with working GPS and Wifi as well as cash in hand. It’s a long story, but the only time I didn’t feel safe was my own fault for thinking I would always be with someone in my group and didn’t equip myself with the correct tools for an emergency. Plan ahead! :)
Things to Eat:
Chilaquiles: At the wedding we attended, this was served as a midnight snack of sorts and it was delicious! It is made with corn chips, shredded chicken, red or green salsa, and refried beans. I believe we first had it served with a side of rice but we later saw it served with fried eggs for breakfast. I found this recipe from Food Network but I must confess I haven’t tried it, does anyone have a good recipe they recommend? I would love to recreate it!
Paleta: I don’t think you are allowed to travel to Mexico during the summer months and not get Paleta! It was my first time enjoying it and although the flavor I got was simple for my first time, it was delicious.
Authentic Mexican: Whatever you do, find a few hole in the wall places that serve real food from the area, not pretend-mexican for tourists. We enjoyed tacos with cilantro and onions, chilaquiles, and we would have tried more if we could.
Argentinean Food: This is where I am a little biased (my husband is from Argentina) but we found several options for Argentinean food! We were pleasantly surprised by the number of places that offered Argentinean options, we ate at a place called Neuquen as it is named after a city not far from my husband’s hometown. It was fun to enjoy a Provoleta and empanadas unexpectedly. We enjoyed Argentinean style gelato complete with Tango dancers outside as well.
In short, go and enjoy! We had a great time and would have loved to spend more time exploring this beautiful city. Have you ever been? What did you enjoy the most?