Monterrey, Mexico & Getting Robbed By Airport Security

Apr 19, 2019 • By Leonidas K. • 17 min read

Mexico Travel

Getting Robbed In Mexico For $2500 USD

After living in Monterrey for roughly 4 months, it was time to leave. I made a plan to fly from Monterrey to the city of Colima on the mid-western coast of Mexico.

I arrived in the Mexico city airport, and checked in my luggage (23kg of my stuff). The airport security told me to dispose of my 1L bottle of water before passing through security, so I chugged the entire thing (can’t be wasteful).

Monterrey to Colima, Mexico (lay-over in Mexico City)

After a brief lay-over in Mexico City, I arrived in the Colima Airport, and took a 30 minute taxi to my hotel in the center of Colima.

I open up my luggage to find that everything has been overturned like a pair of hyenas had gone through my things. Plastic bags were ripped apart, clothes were crumpled everywhere, and everything was simply misplaced.

I searched carefully for what was taken, and it turned out that my small beige satchel where I was keeping my important documents and cash had been opened.

$2500 USD was ripped out of an envelope I had placed it in… and nothing else was taken.

At this point I thought… there was nothing I could do. Firstly, I had no evidence that I had cash on me. Secondly, in Mexico, the police most likely wouldn’t care, and any reports filed would not be solved.

I thought about submitting the envelope for forensic fingerprint analysis, but that would have been a long shot.

So I arrived in Colima with the only remaining $100 USD in my pocket, and a few Mexican pesos.

Ultimately, I was not expecting this to happen.

I had been through perhaps 100+ flights in the last 6 years, and nothing like this had ever happened. I normally divide my cash between my carry-on, and my luggage… but in this case, it was an unexpected event, and a lesson learned.

After telling this story to my father, he summarized it as “a life tax”.

Moral of the story? Keep Zero valuables in your luggage in Latin American countries – and generally all countries.

P.S. After this happened, I ended my stay in Colima after a single night, took a bus to Puerto Vallarta (paid with Credit card), stayed 2 nights in an Airbnb, and flew back to Toronto to refresh.

Monterrey, Mexico For 4 Months

After my 4 month-long adventure in Mexico from January 22nd to May 15th of 2018, I took a brief time-out and refresh in my home base of Toronto.

I had explored almost 40 cities in Mexico in the span of 4 months, so I was burned out from the constant pick-up and go.

Then in the end of September 2018, I decided it was time to head back to Mexico, this time I was planning to live in Monterrey for at least a month.

The view from my first apartment in San Jeronimo District of Monterrey

Typical condiments in a Mexican Restaurant

Mexican waiter serving “Cafe de Olla” (Coffee from the pot). This is a sweet, honey-tasting coffee. The only time that I ever drink coffee

A plate of “Chilaquiles” with cheese (I forgot to ask for no cheese), with Jamaica (pronounced ha-mah-ee-ka, the dark red stuff)

Construction workers in Monterrey, Mexico

A cool business complex statue in Monterrey

Mexican workers working on a blisteringly hot day

Fuente De La Vida (Fountain of Life) featuring the God “Neptune”

Religion = Love. Christian gathering in Monterrey

Palacio Municipal De Monterrey (a few months before Christmas and New Years)

Some strange art decoration in front of Palacio Municipal De Monterrey

Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey

A couple guys chatting in Barrio Antiguo, Monterrey (Old Neighborhood)

Sierra Madre Brewing Company pub, featuring a Canadian flag

A “minimalist electro” event in Parque Microplaza in the downtown

Walking down the streets of Barrio Antiguo in Monterrey

Performers play a Marimba (similar to a xylophone) in Barrio Antiguo in Monterrey

“Alebrijes” (pronounced Ah-leh-bree-heh) for sale. Ancient indigenous spirits that would guide you in the after life

Walking around Barrio Antiguo, Monterrey

Walking around Barrio Antiguo, facing the downtown core

A tidal wave of clouds overlooks Barrio Antiguo

Artistic graffiti in Barrio Antiguo – 2 primates hug

3 young mexicans walk the streets of Monterrey

A man drives around in a classic car in the streets of Barrio Antiguo

The spire of the Catedral Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora de Monterrey

Palacio Municipal de Monterrey in the Day Time

Mexico is the most obese country on the planet

Military forces protect civilian centers in Monterrey

A halo-like cloud overlooks “Cerro De La Silla” (The horses seat mountain) in Monterrey

San Pedro De Garza in Monterrey (the wealthier district)

The view of from my Apartment in San Jeronimo, Monterrey

A close up of residential properties in Monterrey

Inside a millionaires mansion in San Pedro De Garza, Monterrey

A mobile home sits outside Chipinque mountain

Overlooking Monterrey from Chipinque mountain

A lone giant cactus overlooks the hillside of Monterrey

A giant Agave plant in the hills of Monterrey

Inside an ancient cave in the hillsides of Chipinque

Overlooking Santa Caterina District of Monterrey

2 friends climbing up the mountain in Monterrey

The smoke spires of Parque Fundidora (Foundry)

A couple take wedding photos in Monterrey

The old iron smelter in Parque Fundidora

A view of downtown Monterrey from Parque Fundidora

A panorama of downtown Monterrey from Parque Fundidora

A panorama of Monterrey from Parque Fundidora, Cerro De La Silla on the left

Cascading mountains overshadow Monterrey

Facing a stadium in Monterrey from Parque Fundidora

Parque Fundidora warehouses, now reused for events, offices, and other things

Cerro De La Silla (Horses Seat Mountain)

The elevator in the Horno (smelter) in Parque Fundidora now acts as an attraction to visit

A girl takes photos for her “Quinceanera” (turning 15)

A left over smoke spire in Parque Fundidora

Spires contrasted with palm trees in Parque Fundidora

Mountains surround most sides of Monterrey

Statue of someone important in Monterrey

Neptune Statue in downtown Monterrey (Fuente de Neptuno)

Extreme Panorama of Monterrey from Obispado Viewpoint (Mirador De Obispado)

Monterrey highways from Mirador De Obispado

Large cactuses next to Palacio de Obispado

A Quick Trip to Santiago & Cola De Caballo (Horses Tail Waterfall)

My buddy (pictured above with the cactuses), was only staying for a month, so we figured it was time to take a small road trip.

We went southeast to the small “Pueblo Magico” (magic town) of Santiago.

Iglesia Parroquia Santiago Apóstol (Apostle Santiago Parish)

Inside Iglesia Parroquia Santiago Apóstol

Iglesia Parroquia Santiago Apóstol in Santiago

Calle Cuauhtemoc intersection has a very old cross overlooking the town

Mythical Don Quixote rides his horse into battle

Overlooking Pollo Loco (Crazy Chicken – my most favorite fast food in Mexico)

A contemporary statue of a conquistador in Santiago, Nuevo Leon

Cola De Caballo Waterfalls, Nuevo Leon

Just outside the town of Santiago is this natural gem.

A horse (caballo – pronounced kah-bah-yo) looks at us on our way to the waterfalls

The stream leading up to Cola De Caballo

A set of staircases lead up to Cola De Caballo

Back in Monterrey

Absolutely delicious tacos in Taqueria Orinoco in San Pedro De Garza, Monterrey

New apartment complex under construction in San Pedro De Garza district

Chipinque Mountain Adventure

A few days later, it was time to climb up Chipinque mountain in Monterrey

A panoramic view of Monterrey from Chipinque

A view of San Pedro De Garza, Monterrey from Chipinque

Some paths in Chipinque are easier than others

Getting higher up Chipinque, a view of Monterrey

A white-nose Coati in Chipinque. They are not afraid of humans, most likely because humans provide them with a constant supply of food

A radio tower stands in the distance near Chipinque

The highest point you can climb in Chipinque. It gets colder and colder as you continue to venture up

The Obispado

In the center of Monterrey is a large hill with a palace for the Bishop of older days.

Palacio del Obispado (bishopric palace – for the bishop) in Monterrey. It is now a museum

Obispado museum – Mexico city in the early to mid 1900’s

Obispado museum – Mexico in the early to mid 1900’s

Obispado museum – Guanajuato in the early to mid 1900’s

Obispado museum – Mexicans in the early to mid 1900’s

Obispado museum – Mexican train in the early to mid 1900’s

The mountains of Chihuahua in the early 1900’s

Overlooking the Obispado palace in Monterrey

“Me Muero De Hambre” Restaurant (Translation: I’m Dying of Hunger Restaurant)

This was my most favorite restaurant in Monterrey, I loved coming here for the Tostadas de Atun (Tuna), and Tostadas De Pulpo (of Fried Octopus)

I ordered the wrong thing here. Fried fish taco (left), Octopus taco (right)

Tostada de Pulpo (left), Tostada de Atun (right)

A Festival in Monterrey

This festival was showcasing light-up animals along the Santa Lucia Walkway from December to January.

Santa Lucia light show festival in Monterrey

Conclusion

I stayed in Monterrey from the end of September 2018 to the beginning of February 2019.

It’s a decent city, but other than practicing Kickboxing at a local gym (not a very good gym either), there wasn’t much to do.

Monterrey is a working-class city mostly. The mountains are fun to climb, but perhaps no more than 1-2x in a row.

Perhaps I will go back one day to climb Cerro De La Silla, but it is unlikely.

I personally enjoyed living in Mexico City more.

2 Comments

Jason · 7 years ago

Wow, what a trip! I lived in downtown Monterrey for several years back in the 90’s. I was in my 30’s and it was a great experience for me. I loved the culture and the people. I am a musician and I was a DJ on the second largest station (Planeta 104.5) in Monterrey. I managed to upload some of the recordings a while back on YouTube. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk9tIKpRnMg

I recorded my first album with Sony/Columbia in Mexico City. Man, I was there for three weeks recording in Sony’s studios and it was just too damn crazy for me! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wodkZEASPzg

I loved working and partying in Mexico. 🙂 But decided to come back to the States in the early 2000’s. Still miss the food and the beautiful Señoritas.

It was a great experience… One I would never trade for anything!

Reply
1. Leonidas K. · 7 years ago
  
  Mexico has definitely improved substantially since the 90’s and early 2000’s.
  
  Why not give Mexico another spin to the areas you were before, out of nostalgia. It’s just down the street from the states.
  
  Reply