Cuidad Monterrey

Monterrey City

The City of Monterrey is the capital of the northern state of Nuevo Leon, which borders the USA.
It is a city of around 5 million people situated on the edge of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. For this reason, it is known as "Ciudad de las Montanas" (City of the Mountains). It is an industrial city and thought by many to be Mexico's industrial/financial capital.
Below are some images of the city and its inhabitants, the colonial, the modern, and the rustic, as well as the rich and the poor, along with some more iconic images; such as, the "Faro del Comercio" a lighthouse situated in the main plaza - "Macro Plaza", Saddle Mountain, and the Eco-Taxis, or should that be EEK!-o-Taxi - pretty ironic name for these taxis...at least half of them have never been through an MOT!

View across MonterreySanta catarina river which runs through Monterrey - or at least it would if it ever had any waterAlternative view of the waterless Santa Catarina riverThe iconic Volkswagon Beatle, one of Mexico's most common cars with production continuing here long after it stopped in GermanyThe locals are very proud of their new bridge and pray that one day it will have water flowing under itMonterrey's Macro Plaza with the city council building in the backgroundThe main square or Macro PlazaMonterrey city centreThe Mexican history museumOne of the colonial style buildings found in the barrio antiguo areaThe Bario Antiguo is Monterrey's 'old neighbourhood'One of the many rustic old buildings in the Barrio Antiguo areaColonial MonterreyA university building in the old neibourhoodThe Barrio Antiguo area retains much of it's style from old MexicoView towards the Santa Catarina areaThe city centre at nightIn Monterrey its not unusual to see one of these waiting at a red light next a brand new SUVView towards the Bishops Palace at nightPreparing for the independence day partyFinding PanchoPretty much sums up Mexico i thinkMexican embassy? no thats where we call home in Mexico as we decorated for the Mexican independence partyTypical Monterrey main road and the panoramic advertisements that are a feature of Mexican citiesThe city is squeezed between the Sierra Madre Oriental mountainsThe Historic city council building at the macro plazaView across the macro plaza - Monterrey's main square in the city centreThe macro plazaThe Botanero - free food with your drink!A View of the Quinta Real hotelThe Quinta Real gardensModern Monterrey - for a city of it's size Monterrey has relatively few tall tower blocksWhat was she laughing about? answers on a postcard to...The 'lighthouse' it shines a lazer beam into the mountains at night to shoot down UFO'sI have a Pina Colada and im smug about it - quite rightly soQuinta Real's enclosed garden hides you away from the city outsideQuinta Real - of special importance since we had our wedding reception hereThe Neptune fountain in the macro plazaMonterrey CathedralMexico experimented with socialism even before it became popular in the Soviet Union, this political rally at the macro plaza shows the influence still remiansThe poor areas of Monterrey contrast greatly with the city centreThe poorer Santa Catarina area by the river side the people here are at most risk should the river ever flood againView of the poorer side of the CityMonterrey's iconic saddle mountainView of MonterreyThe difference in living standard between the poor and the wealthy is enormous in MexicoEco TaxiMonterrey TrafficView of the CityThe areas at the river side that would flood during heavy rainfall are put to use when its dryWhen there is no room between the mountains - build on the mountainsLocal trafficLa HaciendaOld PharmacyView of the City with Cerro de las Mitras behindLocal trafficFlag seller close to Mexican independance dayStorm over saddle mountainWhilst normally it's hot & sunny the climate is prone to frequent thunder stormsLiving in the city of the mountains requires an inventive (suicidal) approach to housebuildingSuburban MonterreyTypical Monterrey houseTypical taco stall for some 'Al fresco' dining on the cheapTaco bars are commonplace and usually provide great food very cheaply without the frillsThe Mexican cantina, with every drink you buy you get free food - the more you drink the more you eat!Mexico's answer to the icecream van, this man sells Elote which is corn -normally smothered in mayonnaise and chilli powder

Inside the city council building