Mexican State Capitols: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon
Visited: August 30th, 2019
The mountains surrounding Monterrey are very distinct.
If I told you four was really five you would probably angle you head a little bit and give me a puzzled look. It’s OK, after you read about my most recent trip to Mexico trip you will still have a puzzled look, but it is OK, because the story ends with barbecued goat meat.
So when it comes to travel, most people think I am rather peculiar. I mean most people I talk to think it is pretty cool that I travel so much (or at least they say that to my face) but for as much as I am trying to get people to come with me there always seems to be a convenient excuse. Every once in awhile however there is a person out there that gets me. One of those people is my Uncle Bob. It is very refreshing to have someone understand your madness.
Video of Monterrey:
How he got all this in a taco is beyond me.
Uncle Bob is much like me in that he has these weird wacky lists, he ultra plans, and if you suggest driving over a thousand miles in Northern Mexico he will say, “let’s do it!” So we did, but 5 Mexican states was not enough for Uncle Bob, so he also threw in the state of Texas. Yeah, and you know if you include Texas in your trip you just went big, because we all know everything is bigger in Texas.
And so on that note we found ourselves driving on a Thursday night to the CBX border crossing to take a Volaris flight from Tijuana to Monterrey. I have to say right off the plane I learned something new about Monterrey. According to the sign at the airport Monterrey is the city with the most foreign investment in Mexico, and it shows, pretty much every major worldwide company is represented in Monterrey. Some streets were so well represented I started to wonder if we were really in Mexico.
You weren’t there unless you are in front of the letters.
Rest assured we in Mexico and the proof was in the tiny little compact car that we rented that only had KM per hour. We didn’t stay took long at the airport and headed out to the Garcia caves on the outskirts of town. Officially known as Las Grutas de Garcia, the caves were first discovered by a priest in 1843. What that priest was doing so high up on the mountain, no one knows, but it there is no doubt that the caves are indeed formed with wonderous formations that took millions of years to form, all drop by drop. There are two ways to get to the caves. We opted for the faster route which involves taking a tram for 80 MXN (about $4 USD). The tour of the caves is about two miles long and takes you up and down about 750 uneven stairs.
Entrance to the cave.
It is a long way up to the top.
Just amazing what one little drop can do.
They call that little red spot Hell.
The Witch’s Hand.
The park entrance of the Grutas de Garcia.
The stone is very translucent.
They call the point where the two meet is the 8th wonder of the world.
If you look close you can see the cross.
The Spanish conquerors arrived in what is now known as Monterrey shortly after the fall of Mexico City, but the locals known as the Chichimecas were nomadic hunters and they would constantly raid any Spanish outpost in the area. It was because of this that the first permanent settlement in Nuevo Leon was not established until 1596. In the 19th century, due to it’s location Monterrey grew to become an economic powerhouse and in 1824 it was selected to become the state capitol. The people of Monterrey are hard working people and this is evident in the city they have established that is the third largest in Mexico.
Inside the Monterrey Capital.
The museum starts by talking about the ancient people.
Cool Spanish armor.
The Monterrey Supreme Court.
Monterrey was known for being a hub for the silver trail.
The Spanish Viceroy chair.
The state capitol had some very cool stain glass windows.
In addition to lots of trade there is a lot of cattle in Northern Mexico. Not just cows but other herd animals like sheep and goat roam the land. One of the most famous restaurants in all of Mexico is called El Rey Del Cabrito, “the King of Goat”, and for about $46 USD we had the best barbequed goat I have ever had in my life. The cooking style is simple, they just have a big pile of coals and they put the goat on a big iron stick and then let the radiant heat cook the goat. What you get is this piece of goat that is crunchy on the outside like a pork grind but very moist and flaky on the inside. Hands down the best goat meat I have ever had. If I had any more food they would have had to take me out with a wheelbarrow.
The advertising at El Rey de Cabrito is over the top.
The inside is almost as cheesy as their cheese.
They cook the goats whole over coals.
My uncle is really into cheese.
The meat at El Rey de Cabrito is awesome.
Our time in Monterrey was very brief but very memorable. If I ever get back there I will be interested in seeing more of what the state has to offer. I hear that in Parque Nacional (National Forest) Cumbres de Monterrey there is a very cool waterfall.
Nice post John. El Rey Del Cabrito was the highlight for me. Quirky and wonderful. I also loved the place we ate breakfast in Garcia with multiple wonderful salsas. I would love to go to Monterrey when a rain and wind has cleaned out the pollution and see the spectacular mountains that surround it. We just scratched the surface, so much more to see.
Of all the places you ate, I am most jealous of El Rey Del Cabrito. I love goat. Looks like lots of fun, and yes, you and Bob are a great travel match!