26 



A GUIDE TO MEXICO. 



be well spent in Laredo, although it is not especially attractive; for here the Rio 



Grande is first seen, and on the opposite bank is the thoroughly Mexican town 



of Nuevo Laredo, a 

 typical mud village 

 with many interesting 

 peculiarities^ The Gulf 

 of Mexico may be 

 reached (i6o miles dis- 

 tant) over the northern 

 division of the Mexican 

 National to Corpus 

 Christi, where is excel- 

 lent sea-bathing, and 

 vast ranches, with 

 abundant game — an- 

 telope, deer, etc. — in 

 sections on the way. 



The ride to Monterey 

 is unrelieved by nota- 

 ble scenery, and does 

 not reveal a single town 

 of importance. Half- 

 way on, the blue and 

 beautiful mountains 

 appear in sight ; and a 

 singular mesa, or table- 

 topped hill, claims at- 

 tention, with here and 

 there scattered groups 

 of upland palms and 

 maguey-plants. At Vil- 

 ladama a Mexican meal 



is served ; and the monotony of the trip thence is unbroken until Monterey is 



reached, at four p.m. 



MONTEREY. 



Hacks are in waiting for every train (fare, twenty-five cents to the city, a mile 

 distant), and good horse-cars (fare, ten cents). 



There are two hotels here, the Iturbide and Monterey, both in Mexican style, 

 single-storied, built around an inner cjuadrilateral court. After the arid stretches 

 below, Monterey is a glad surprise : surrounded by mountains, and at an elevation 

 of 1, 600 feet, its climate is extremely agreeable. Near it are several thermal and 

 mineral springs, which contribute to its claims as a health-resort. The buildings 

 are all in Mexican style. Its public structures are fine. It has many plazas, the 

 largest and most beautiful being the Plaza of Zaragoza, the fountain in which 

 is of marble, sculptured in dolphins' and lions' heads. 



Objects of interest: the Plaza; Cathedral; the Church and Convent of the Fran- 

 ciscans; a large unfinished temple, — La Basilica Later iiense ; the Casa Municipal, 



CONVliNT OF SAN FRANCISCO, MONTEREY. 



(Loaned by Missouri-Pacific Ry.) 



