This post is dedicated to our wonderful In-laws - Ora & David who hosted us
UBER pick-up prices were much higher on the early morning of our departure, so we resorted to a regular Taxi company The local taxi driver who showed up in a black Lincoln Town Car, to pick us up to the airport, told us that the ride's lower price he had quoted us pertained to Oakland airport ride and not to SFO the airport, for which we ordered the ride .. ..After a few irritating exchanges, we continued with him to the SFO airport as not to miss our flight.
Several morning flights were cancelled that Dec. 18th morning, due to heavy fog which blanketed the entire bay area, Luckily our direct flight from SFO to Monterrey Mexico departed and landed three and a half hours, later on time.
We finally payed an over-due visit, for the first time, to our wonderful in-laws (the parents of our younger daughter's husband) whom we know at least 15 years since the children wed, at their home town in Mexico
Heavy and slow traffic, congested the HWY, that early evening, along a wide dry River route, and all the way, for the hour long drive, from General Mariano Escobedo International Airport, at, Apodaca, Nuevo León, (MTY) state, which serves Greater Monterrey, and until reaching the hotel we stayed in.
Cosmopolitan and competitive Monterrey with its metro-population of about 5
millions, is considered a Beta World City, is Mexico’s third-largest city, second-largest industrial center and número uno in per-capita income.
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Monterrey is one of the most developed cities in Mexico, as well as is rich in history,
This economic powerhouse center is known for its strong entrepreneurial ethos, vibrant cultural scene, urban hipster nightlife. and great universities
The Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (1943) is one of Mexico’s largest educational institutions. Furthermore, the city is also the site of Nuevo León University (1933), Labastida University (1947), the Regiomontana University (1969), and the University of Monterrey (1969).
Monterrey is the heart of one the country’s largest urban agglomerations. with a mixture of services and manufacturing, It is positions on main highways, railroads, and air routes at an elevation of about 538 m in the west-central part of the state, being. the capital of Nuevo León in northeastern Mexico.
Nestled beneath the mountains of the northern Mexican desert, on the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. Monterrey, city, sprawls over the semiarid floodplain and along the wide mostly dry Santa Catarina River, which spills eastward from the flanks of the Sierra Madre Oriental It is dry most of the year on the surface, but with flowing underground water it bisects Monterrey from east to west, and into north and south halves, and drains the city to the San Juan River and Rio Grande.
The sprawling business and industrial center of Monterrey are fringed by steep pointy mountains. Parts of the city are set against the scenic backdrop of Mount Silla, which rises above the plain to an elevation of more than 1,700 m
Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain) dominates the view at the east of the city and is considered a major symbol of the city
Monterrey was founded as a Spanish settlement in 1596, by Diego de Montemayor
and grew slowly, owing it to Indian resistance, periodic floods, and a lack of mineral wealth.
Many of the first settlers in Monterrey were of Jewish descend. Infect the founding of Nuevo León state. and the surrounding region is linked to Judaism which may have shaped much of the area's identity and customs. .(see more below).
The city is named after Gaspar de Zúñiga, 5th Count of Monterrey, who was viceroy of New Spain from 1595 to 1603. His family originated in Monterrei, Galicia, Spain
By 1775 it had only a few hundred residents, During the Mexican-American War (1846–48) it was captured by U.S. troops, many of whom ravaged the city before order was restored. After the Mexican Independence War, the city mushroomed in the 19th c
into a major population and a key economic center, for the newly formed nation.
When Monterrey was linked by rail with Laredo, Texas .it attracted large-scale foreign investment after 1882, which benefited the industry
In spite of a devastating flood in 1909, the city continued to develop rapidly, particularly after the Inter-American Highway had begun in 1930.
The manufacturing industry has made this one of the most important cities in Mexico, behind Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Its wide range of light manufactures include: woolen textiles, beer, flour. processed foods, chemicals, and glass and plastic products.
A steel-producing company that accelerated the already fast industrialization of the city was founded in 1900 and became one of the world's biggest.
By the turn of the century, thousands of workers of the Heavy industries were producing iron, brass, steel, wagons, Iron-works and steelworks , manufacturing steel sheet-rolls and an array of other metal products
Horno 3. - Oven # 3 at Parque Fundidora
Blast Furnace No 3 is located in what once were the industrial grounds of the Monterrey Foundry, the first steel and iron foundry in Latin America, and, for many years, the most important one in the region
The steel foundry company was of great importance to the economic development of the city during the 20th
After its bankruptcy in 1986, Federal and State government decided to use the land to create a public park which opened in 2001, with the aim to preserve that industry's history as well as being a center of culture, business, entertainment and ecological awareness for the people of the city
A Visit to the Foundry Museum, is definitely worth while
The preservation of historically important buildings and machinery within the Foundry and the dismantling of the others, followed by the construction of the CINTERMEX includes convention center, amusement park, children library, hotel and a cinematheque.
Ora and I paid a visit to the Foundry and the delightful park, along with many locals, who enjoy frequenting it especially on weekends.
Daring to take the old elevator to the top of the huge elaborated steel structure, also gave the opportunity for a panoramic view of the city
Next to the Foundry park is the location the Auditorio Citibanamex- an inddoor amphitheater primarily used for concerts, shows and indoor sports like indoor soccer or basketball
Paseo Santa Lucía
In 2010 the Paseo Santa Lucia was also developed and inaugurated in 2007, inspired by the River Walk in San Antonio , Texas It consists of a 2.5 km artificial Canal alongside a pedestrian path , connecting the Macroplaza and Fundidora Park ,
The project is the longest artificial river in Latin America , and is considered one of the 13 wonders of Mexico created by man.
Xmas Tree made out of colorful plastic baskets decorating the Museum Plaza
The canal is completely navigable via small boats that are taken at the beginning of the walk next to the Museum of Mexican History and the Museum of the Northeast .
We visited the museums which showcase an impressive fossils collection, and historical artifacts
The Canal commemorates the ancient Santa Lucía spring , the site of the third and final founding of Monterrey by Don Diego de Montemayor . The layout of the promenade partly follows that of the spring, which today flows underground, and the canal is partially fed by it. It is the preferred place for by the locals to stroll in the afternoons and on weekends, as well as a world tourist destination.
Varied Urban Landscape
The varied urban landscape— consists of colorful "Favelas" slums, disorderly rolling down off the mountainside, and a mix of fashionable districts, with modern skyscrapers, shopping malls, golf courses, and convention centers, sometimes in close proximity—revealing Monterrey’s blend of wealthy, middle-class, and poor residents.
Clearly its general urban development contrasts strongly with the relative poverty of smaller cities and rural districts.
Beautiful Architecture at Towns' Center
Monterrey Casino
The French neo-classical Casino building served as an important meeting place and cultural center back when it was first built in 1866, but was redesigned in 1922 because the original construction was scorched by the flames during a fire in 1914.
an association football stadium in Guadalupe, Greater Monterrey, Nuevo León, Nicknamed "El Gigante de Acero" in Spanish. "The Steel Giant"inaugurated in 2015, at a cost of US$200 million, and with a capacity of 51,000 people, making it the fourth largest in Mexico.
Little further on the piedmont outskirts to the north and east of the city, irrigated crops are grown, including cotton, citrus fruits, sugarcane, cereals (especially corn [maize] and wheat), and vegetables
Urban Scenes
It was alarming when I saw for the first time,Mexican police and military ride and patroling the streets of Monterrey in back of pick up trucks, pointing scary automatic mchin guns on alert
The presence of the military in public areas and on the streets in Mexico is primarily a response to ongoing issues related to drug trafficking, organized crime, and violence.
On the other hand, Monterrey is very soothing with its festively decorated ornoments and excessive Xmas lighten up , The city looks especially dazzling during this Holiday time of the year, with Santa circulating and greeting the by-passers on his motorbike, throughout the historic center of town
City Center
High-rise hotels, office buildings and many shopping malls mark the central business district, above which looms the lava-red Lighthouse of Commerce, a 70m tall observation tower the
It was designed by the accomplished Mexican architect Luis Barragán and constructed in 1984 by architect Raúl Ferrera .
It beams green lasers into the sky symbolizing the economic aspirations of the city.
Torres Obispado the tallest Skyscraper in Mexico and Latin America - 305 m and 62 floors,
Part of a complex of two skyscrapers, it was completed in 2020.
The tallest building in the complex, called T.Op Torre 1, and houses offices, a Hilton Garden Inn,
commercial space office and restaurants space, .
The smaller, 156-metre, 42-storey tower is designed for residential use only.
Both structures have a 12-storey car park.
Also known as La Gran Plaza - the town's main square built in the early 1980s is located in the heart of the city, and is delightful to visit
The Palacio de Gobierno,
A vast green area of connected squares is home to the city Gov buildings,
The most imposing is the State of Nuevo León Government building,
This Spanish colonial neoclassical style municipal building built in 1908 of pink stone quarried from around San Luis Potosí, is ornate, columned with stained-glass windows & colorful illuminations at night.
On the day we visited guided by Ora, it was lavishly decorated with Xmas ornoments
Fuente de la Vida - Fountain of Life
A modern centerpiece landmark at the square's passage is the majestic Neptune's Fountain formed of 8 bronze figures guided by God Neptune.
The Fountain commemorates the completion of the 520 km aqueduct which comes from the Water Dam Cerro Prieto. most important project for the transmission of drinking water through a transfer from one basin to another,
Additional landmarks at the plaza is Teatro La Ciudad
This cultural space designed by architect Óscar Bulnes in 1984 is located in the heart of Monterrey, and is the largest stage complex in the state, with an area of 9,500 square m
With more than 30 years of operation, it has hosted important music, dance opera, children's shows, cinema, conferences,and theater festivals.
Monuments on the plaza passages
On the north end of the Macroplaza.the striking Museo de Arte Contemporáneo abbreviated as MARCO, This major contemporary art museum, organizes major exhibitions with regional and international contemporary artists.
It was designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, in a Minimalist Post-modern architectural style opened in 1991
The bird in the front is called "La Paloma" by sculptor Juan Soriano.
Next to the MARCO museum looms the metropolitan main Cathedral - the Immaculate Conception of Monterrey
the main Catholic church and home of the Archdiocese of Monterrey.
The 18th c, notable cathedral features both neoclassical & baroque architecture. .The building has a central nave in the shape of a Latin cross flanked by niches chapels
It’s overlooked by the Palacio del Obispado, a storied Baroque palace with a regional museum.
Built in the late 1780s, on a hill , the Bishropic Palace was erected on the eponymous Cerro del Obispado to house the seat of religious authority in the Spanish Viceroyalty
The palace was expropriated and work began to turn it into the Regional Museum of Nuevo León in 1902.
The Historic City Center Heart - Pedestrian Shopping St. - José María Morelos
Barrio Antiguo, of the historic quarter, located next to the Government Palace and the Macroplaza, dates from the very founding of the city at the end of the 16th c, It is characterized by its charming cobblestone alleyways and vibrant colonial architecture The buildings preserved today however date mostly from the 18thc onward.
It used to be the commercial and cultural center of the city until the 20C, but now a days
the area boasts a lively nightlife with upscale beer bars, late-night electronic dance clubs, and live music venues showcasing both international and regional bands. Galleries feature local artists' handicrafts, and antiques.
The market on José María Morelos #837- situated in a modern building in the midst of the historic quarter, features rooftop terrace, eateries & shops with gourmet foods, antiques & crafts.
Cool Street Art at the Bario Antigo
One charming restaurant we samples at the Bario Antigo was
Diego DeMontemayor 115 Monterrey. Tel 8120170000
Av. Ignacio Morones Prieto 2414, Sertoma, 64718 Monterrey,
San Pedro Garza García -Suburb
a 10 km Hill, , South of the Santa Catarina River—separates Monterrey from the suburb of San Pedro Garza García. The hill is a spur of the Sierra Madre Oriental and is made up of a series of elevations.
A strange huge mural graffiti of 3 "Guardians" by the contemporary Mexican artists
Ruben Carrasco decorates the entrance wall to the tunnel, connecting the 2 towns
In 1998, the Loma Larga Tunnel - a set of two parallel tunnels, 531.95 m long, was built through the Cerro de la Loma Larga , connecting the municipalities of Monterrey and San Pedro Garza García,
The 2 municipalities are also connected by these 2 bridges
Papal Bridge -El Puente del Papa, Puente de la Unidad -Bridge of Unity
The bridges over the Santa Catarina River connecting San Pedro to Monterrey
San Pedro which is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, most notably La Loma Larga and Sierra Madre Oriental, was founded in 1596 as the "Hacienda de San Pedro los Nogales" by Diego de Montemayor. Initially it was a rural village south of Monterrey, a land of large plantation, producing crops like corn, wheat, and beans.
.It remained as such until 1940, when the first urbanization in the village started.
Now a days the town is a contemporary, very modern commercial and upscale suburb, popular destination for expats, with an exclusive and international community vibe. It's also considered one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Latin America, offering a very high quality of life for its rich conservative community of about 135,000.with an average household income of around $1 million per year.
The town hosts the head offices of companies like ALFA, Cemex, Gamesa, Vitro, Pyosa, Softtek and Cydsa.
It is dotted with luxury shopping malls, expensive private membership clubs large green areas, parks, many cafes, excellent restaurants as well as important colleges, universities and hospitals
The town is a host to the Catholic university, Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM), the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) 2 of its graduate schools, The Escuela de Graduados en Administración y Dirección de Empresas (EGADE), ITESM's Graduate School of Business, and the Escuela de Graduados en Administración y Política Pública (EGAP),
As well as to the Graduate School of Politics and Public Administration. Both campuses are located in Valle Oriente. There are no public universities in San Pedro
The dramatic mountainous landscape of neighboring San Pedro National Park Reserve offers greener, cooler and cleaner air, Thus, attractive upscale residential gated communities, of tall high rise buildings and luxurious villas have mushroomed on the verdant steep slopes.