FROM THE FARMER'S PERSPECTIVE: ALL THE WAY TO MONTERREY

12/06/16 — Heydon Hatcher

Photo by Brenton Johnson.

Well, we’re back on the farm after taking a rare (and well-deserved) long weekend for Thanksgiving! When I realized I had three days stretching ahead of me with no farm work to take care of, I had to take advantage of it. Having recently acquired a passport for my trip to Italy, Mexico immediately popped into my mind. I checked the map and the city of Monterrey was a straight shot down I-35, only six hours away. Perfect.

If you’ve never traveled alone, I highly recommend it. There are few things more freeing than heading to an unknown destination with zero itinerary and unlimited possibilities. I listened to Mexican radio stations as I drove, trying to pick up some Spanish last-minute. I drove across the border and was stopped a few miles later by a cop who wanted to see my paperwork. Apparently, I had almost none of the proper documentation for my truck. With the help of our Operations Manager, Krishna, back in Austin, we sorted out the issue and I was back on my way four confusing hours later. To avoid my mistake, you can find a list of necessary documents here. You should definitely make an appointment to get your vehicle permit at a consulate in the US if you do decide to make the drive.

Once in Monterrey, I checked into the Hotel Safi, a five-star hotel just South of the city’s center. I could not believe my eyes when I walked into the lobby. The ceiling must have been fifty feet high! The hotel had a pool with a slide surrounded by gardens, which I’m sure kids would love. For under a hundred bucks a night, this place is an awesome deal.

I spent the rest of the weekend basically eating my way through the city. I visited the farmers markets where the air was thick with the scent of smoked chilis, cheeses, and masa cooking on hot griddles. Piles of what looked like spiced insects caught my eye, which I learned are a local delicacy called chapolinas (roasted grasshoppers). The quality and abundance of locally produced goods was astonishing. Vendors were selling everything from verduras (fresh vegetables) to handmade gorditas in clay pots and freshly squeezed orange juice. Tiny trucks drove by piled high with roasted chilis and long braids of freshly harvested garlic from the nearby city of San Luis Potosi. (See more photos below!)

Photo by Brenton Johnson.

Chapolinas! Photo by Brenton Johnson.

For dinner on Saturday, I ate at a small restaurant called La Familia. I had an incredible warm avocado salad with wild arugula followed by the best chicken molé I’ve ever tasted, all accompanied by a stack of handmade corn tortillas. For dessert, I treated myself to chocolate cake with a molten chocolate center topped with ice cream. I felt like a king, but this incredible meal hardly cost me anything.

The food, the hotel, the people, and the markets were all incredible. I didn’t see a single American the entire weekend. Monterrey is pretty modern and I felt just as safe as I would in any American city. There are millions of people living peacefully in Monterrey, and it’s right there for us to explore. It’s just a six hour drive away!

When I crossed the border back into the US, the guard asked me what I’d been doing in Monterrey. I told him I went to see the farmers markets, and he looked at me like I was crazy. Believe me though, the markets alone are worth the trip.