Work or Play in Monterrey!

When you think of Mexico do you hear mariachi music? Think of all inclusive hotels? Beaches? Ruins? Tourist spots with tacos and tequila?

I don't catch myself thinking of any of those as I'm descending into Monterrey, Mexico. The lights of the city sparkling like diamonds. Their meandering weaving pathways across the city and up the mountains that surround the city in an iridescent glow.  I've been coming to Monterrey for the last 15 years and I've watched it grow and spread.  I remember when the airport was two gates and armed guards stood outside so no one would run out onto the tarmac.  Still I have my favorite things about Monterrey. I only ever come here for work.  Usually a Monday flight in, a Thursday or Friday flight out depending on the number of people I'm seeing.

My Top things for Monterrey:

1. Tequila... good quality sipping tequila. Its cheap and plentiful.  My current favorite is Tres Generacions.
2. Mexican food...I know duh right?  But, this is two hours into the country and you can find some really fantastic REAL Mexican food, not Taco Bell, Taco Beuno, Speedys cousin Zip on the corner 
3. Patio Dining... It's relatively nice here all year round.  So sit outside and enjoy the sun, heat, rain, whatever the sky hands you. 
4. Someone else to drive you... OK this probably surprises you if you know me.  My own family calls me Mario Andreotti, but I really rather let someone else drive in Mexico.  We have a great guy here and he has a cute little red car.  I let him drive. 
5. Mountains... they are beautiful, breathtaking and with the fog, sunlight, rain and constant building of houses ever changing vision within the city.  I highly recommend as much viewing time as possible.
6. Arracha steaks... Smothered in cheese, served with onions and a twice baked potato. 
7. Mexico coke... made with sugar cane not corn syrup.  Still not good for you, but Dios Mio yummy 
8. Cheese... fried cheese with chorrizo, melted cheese for quesadilla, cheese in my morning omelettee, just cheese
9. Fresh avacados... 
10.  Mojitos done right and as many nuts as you can eat
11.  The Safi hotel www.safihotels.com
12.  Air Conditioning

13.  Call buttons on the waiters!

10 Things I Learned While in Belgium Last Month...

1. Syphylius is back! I saw this sign in the women's bathroom over the sinks in the first resturuant we went to in Brussels. The guys came back and said there was one of these signs hung over every urinal!

2. Always have change in your pocket! Alot of the bathrooms are pay to use even in the resturaunts.

3. Diet Coke is Coke Light over there. They serve you a glass with ice and lemon whether you want it or not.

4. Beer is plentiful blonde, red, dark... exotic. It comes in all types of glasses too. My favorite looked like an old trumpet.

5. Raw meat is a favorite... anything tartare... will need lots of sauce or wasabi. I learned I like coleslaw salad without all the dressing.

6. Belgians think we have crap chocolate...after eating theirs for 5 days I agree! My suitcase had plenty on the way home.

 

 

7. The Three Belgians will knock you on your ass if you aren't paying attention. Dark Chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate mousse all piled in a cone shape with gold leaf. Talk about decadent but totally worth the extra 2-3 mile walk after.

8. Find the nearest Deli and buy some bread. By far one of the best things about going to Europe, the fresh and always available bread. Real butter as well.

9. Bring your walking shoes, there's a reason Europeans are thin. They walk everywhere and take 3 hours to eat. I walked roughly 20-25 miles in 5 days.

10. Using your the new French swear words you learned is great fun when you are with a bunch of your American and Belgium friends drinking beer and bowling.