By Kevin Poling, Director of Travel of Satori World Medical

Satori World Medical offers many choices in destinations to receive medical care. Whether you are traveling internationally for a shoulder or knee replacement or even a cosmetic procedure, such as a facelift, you and your companion can take some extra time on your trip to enjoy the amenities of your hotel and experience the rich cultural areas in which our International Centers of Excellence are located.

The fifth of the destination cities of the Satori Global Network™ I am highlighting is Monterrey, the capitol of the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon.

Your ‘to do list’ while in Monterrey:

- Visit the Serengeti Safari wild animal park
- Experience the rich cultural heritage by taking a tour of the city
- Experience live music at the Municipal Palace: Open air concerts every Sunday evening
- Shop for jewelry or arts & crafts at the local markets
- Visit the Planetario Alfa art museum, science exhibits, and IMAX theater

Transportation

Monterrey is connected to its neighboring cities and the United States by many highways and a few freight lines. Transportation in while in Monterrey is quick, either via taxi or the Rapid Transit System called the Metrorrey. The Metrorrey currently has two lines and covers a wide area of the city. There are also a few old fashioned trolleys rolling around the city.

Tours

Speaking of Trolleys, why not catch one for a first hand glimpse of what the city has to offer? There are many trolley tours available, and tourists can usually catch them right outside their hotels. If you enjoy a cold beer now and again, check out the Tecate Group beer garden in the center of the city for some cold, fresh Carta Blanca, for free! There are many tours in the city that cover the main areas of interest, including the Gran Plaza, which offers weekly open air concerts, and plenty of cultural activities throughout the year.

Shopping

Travelers from the United States will quickly notice some familiar store chains, which can make it easy to pick up an item that was forgotten at home, without having to search far and wide. There are also almost a dozen large shopping malls throughout Monterrey, with department stores, cinemas, and food courts. Here, many tourists can find great prices on the same items they could find at home, all while shopping through familiar stores and brands. Monterrey has many souvenir and art stores which feature everything from postcards, to rugs, pottery, and beautiful handmade glass items.

Culture

Monterrey is home to many art museums, both contemporary and historical. Also of note are the many history museums, which include artifacts from Monterrey, and offer a deep look inside the history of Mexico. There are planty of interesting displays, from old treasures, to breathtaking glass art.

Monterrey is a city in which music holds a high importance. There are many places throughout the city that feature live music, of all types. Barrio Antiguo is the center of all of Monterrey’s nightlife, and tourists can easily find one of the many venues, featuring jazz, salsa, Nortena – as well as many big name entertainers that pass through the area. You’ll never know what famous concerts you might see in Monterrey!

Dining

Monterrey’s most traditional dish is cabrito, which is kid goat cooked whole over burning embers. It is based on the cuisine of the Jewish founders of the city. There are a number of other traditional dishes with this influence, and also a noticeable absense of pork dishes. Carne asada is a well known favorite, and is largely popular among Monterrey families. This is often served with grilled onions or baked potatoes.

Once again, travelers from the United States will feel very comfortable with the familiar chain restaurants which can be found throughout the cities, but why not try something new? The local restaurants (even the fancy ones), are very reasonably priced when compared to the U.S. Monterrey also offers a variety of international cuisine, with local flavor infused, for a very unique, and unforgettable taste.

View more of Satori World Medical’s popular destinations

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterrey
[2] http://www.allaboutmonterrey.com/