World Cup Adventures

I went to Monterrey, Mexico with my wife and son to see Japan play Tunisia in the World Cup. We stayed in an Airbnb near the stadium. The place was very modern and clean. My wife is from Monterrey, so we also spent time with family and friends.

The energy of the crowd was amazing. Everyone was very friendly. I was surprised at the amount of support for the Japanese team. Many locals were wearing Japan jerseys. There were also lots of people who came from Japan to support their team. I have been going to Monterrey for 26 years and have never seen so many Japanese there.

The stadium is beautiful and super modern. I was delighted to see one of our favorite regional foods, chicharrón from a chain called Ramos. It’s softer, more meaty with less fat. Don’t get me wrong. It’s still greasy, just less than other places. The seasoning is fantastic. Lines for food and drinks were faster than any stadium I’ve been to in the US.

It was an exciting game. The crowd was great. Everyone was enthusiastic from beginning to end. Japan won 4 to 0. After the game, we walked back to the Airbnb. Everyone was happy and polite. I have always experienced great hospitality and acceptance traveling in Mexico.

For us, food is a huge part of traveling. When we go to Monterrey, I do my best to have hamburguesa al carbón. It is a hamburger cooked over coals. Each place has their own spin on it. My favorite has avocado, ham, salami, lettuce, onion, tomato, cheese, ketchup, mayo, and mustard. The flavor is incredible.

Monterrey is cattle country, and the beef is high quality all over the city. Every cut I have seen has been deep red and super flavorful. Everything from carne asada and arracheras to tomahawk steaks. You can’t go wrong with beef.

The other notable dish is cabrito. It is roast baby goat (usually milk-fed and under 3 weeks old). Because the animal is so young, the meat is incredibly tender, lean, and lacks that intense, gamey flavor you sometimes get with older goat. It’s usually served family-style with warm flour tortillas, charro beans, a sharp salsa verde or salsa de molcajete, and a squeeze of lime to cut through the richness.

The trips are always too short. Thank you to our friends and family for making our visit fun as always.