Back home, but great memories of Monterrey...

The American Airlines flight from Dallas to London, while long, seemed to pass very quickly (and smoothly). I was sitting in seat 26L, an exit seat with a window, although the window was slightly behind me, which was annoying. The plane - a Boeing 777 - wasn't full. There were, in fact, 100 seats unsold, according to the female member of cabin staff who looked a little like Rudy Guiliani, former mayor of New York and now, I think, something to do with Donald Trump. I had the whole row to myself, which was fantastic.

I sat by the pool and took this image as I wrote up my conference coverage

After 'dinner' - it's always a choice between chicken or pasta and I always choose the former - I read a bit of my Laurie Lee book and then decided to watch Toy Story 4. It was good, yes, but somehow not as good as the others and the emotional ending described as such by many people, wasn't as emotionally troubling as I was expecting it to be. When Toy Story 3 hit the cinemas I remember going with my daughter and feeling, well, a little emotional at the end. Put it this way: I was glad that it was dark in the cinema and that nobody could see me. With Toy Story 4 it was a case of Woody choosing between a life on the road with a now racy Bo Peep or going back with Buzz and the crew to continue his life as a toy serving a child. He chose to, in a sense, ride off into the sunlight with Bo, leaving the toys we all know and love to head back home and do their thing with Molly. And everybody's saying it'll definitely be the final Toy Story movie, which is just as well as they'll start ruining it if they continue any further. That said, with Woody and Bo Peep 'out on the streets' so to speak, there's probably a story line there that could be expanded upon. Perhaps they find Buzz down on his luck after having decided to follow Woody on to the streets to freedom, but losing his way. How it would continue, who knows? There could be a wedding at the end between Bo and Woody and Buzz could be the best man, with the other toys as guests. I don't know. Or there could be another movie back at Molly's house where the toys realise they can't cope without Woody and go in search of a better life themselves and encounter Bo and Woody on their travels. There are many possibilities for a Toy Story 5. I mean, what if Bo and Woody have kids? What would they be? Bo Peeps or Woody dolls, but smaller, and would they be toys? Would they grow up? What would a cross between Bo Peep and Woody look like? It all starts to get a little complicated.

I also watched Pet Sematary, which was typical of its genre and a bit ridiculous in places.

Then time seemed to fly. There was little in the way of turbulence and soon we were flying over the Bristol Channel, along the M4 and straight into Heathrow (after following a holding pattern for a short while).

Room 2319, Real Inn, Monterrey

When I got home I went straight to bed for around five hours' sleep and then I headed off to a family wedding in Nonsuch Park. I eventually hit the sack around 0030hrs and slept for 13 hours. I got up, made some Weetabix with fruit (bananas, blueberries, grapes) and now I'm sitting here in the living room at 1852hrs, Miss Marple is on ITV3, it's dark outside (and cold) and next week the clocks go back.

View from room 2319, Real Inn, Monterrey

I keep counting back six hours and remembering Mexico. For example, right now it's almost 1300hrs, the sun is probably shining brightly and the hotel pool is flat calm. There's likely to be a mild breeze blowing the drapes hanging from posts surrounding some of the sun loungers and I doubt if there's anybody there, possibly one person on a laptop or simply sitting at the bar. The mountains in the background make for a picturesque backdrop while the skyscrapers close by remind guests that they're in the middle of the city. The music is good too: 60s, 70s and 80s original artists and I remember how it all took me back to the European pool holidays of days past where there was nothing to do but sit around in the sunshine, listening to music, reading Graham Greene novels while awaiting dinner. Next year, perhaps.

Another view from room 2319

I didn't wander too far from the hotel. Next door there was a huge shopping mall, which, I discovered, linked up with another equally large mall - it was weird when I realised they were one and the same. I'm not a great shopper at the best of times, but I walked for miles through the malls, occasionally stopping to check out the goods, but not often. I bought a razor from a supermarket in the depths of the mall along with other stuff (deodorant, shaving foam, shower gel and, of course, a toothbrush).

The Quinta Real, Monterrey, Mexico

Across the street from the Quinta Real hotel, where I spent most of Monday and Tuesday last week, was a Starbucks with outdoor seating. I remember sitting there with a mint tea and a chocolate coin reading, yes, you've guessed it, my Laurie Lee book, it's not a novel, it's a memoir, and I love it and there's nothing better than reading it in the hot sunshine, watching traffic and people while enjoying the heat and a refreshing drink.

Chicken, roast potatoes and greens - for breakfast!!!

Room 2319 is probably occupied by somebody else now, but for the past seven days it's been my home and in a way I'll kind of miss it, but life moves on and its good to be home. I'll certainly miss the Sunday roasts for breakfast, but equally, I'm glad to get back to eating porridge and fresh fruit every morning, as long as I keep off the sugary biscuits and buns.

London from an American Airlines Boeing 777

We landed at Heathrow at 0825hrs on Saturday 19 October.

In praise of the Real Inn, Monterrey, Mexico...

I could say that it didn't start well. When I arrived, tired after 15 hours of travelling, 12 of which had been flying, I needed sleep like never before. I was given room 2612 on the top floor of the hotel and then discovered that I had left my toothbrush and toothpaste in England. Silly me, and all credit to the hotel. Within five minutes a man arrived at my door with a toothbrush. Minutes later I decided to take the lift down to the front desk in order to buy some toothpaste. After cleaning my teeth I clambered into bed only to realise that a deep, pulsating sound of machinery was going to prevent me from sleeping. How anybody on the 26th floor can sleep, I don't know. I called reception again and within five minutes another man arrived and took me down three floors to a junior suite with automatic curtains. The sound of machinery had disappeared and I fell asleep. So, hats off to the Real Inn for their quick responses.

Roast spuds and chicken for breakfast!

The rooms are of good quality. The bathrooms are amazing, equipped as they are with rain showers and everything you might need for a decent wash in the morning. The bed, incidentally, was huge and certainly wider than it was long, but I slept well even if jet lag woke me up at an ungodly hour. On my first night I awoke around 0355hrs; on my second I managed 0444hrs and as soon as I've written this review I'll hit the sack and we'll see what time I wake up tomorrow. Last night I had a full eight hours sleep as I went to bed early, around 2100hrs.

The Stock Cafe for breakfast, lunch and dinner

And then, of course, there's breakfast. The great leveller, the chief benchmark, in my opinion, of whether a hotel is good or bad. The Real Inn passed with flying colours. There was such a variety of hot food. For the first two mornings I opted for scrambled egg with diced potatoes followed by a yoghurt and some cereal and a couple of small pastries, not forgetting the vanilla tea. This morning - and yes I'm still in the hotel as I write this review - I thought I'd go the whole hog and have a Sunday roast. Yes, it's possible! I had roasted potatoes and chicken and there were vegetables blended in with the potatoes, so it was authentic enough. I won't lie, I'll probably do the same tomorrow.

I had lunch in the restaurant yesterday (arrabiatta) and just now I had dinner (salmon fillet with vegetables). Both meals were perfect and what made them great was the music and the environment. First, the music: sixties, seventies and eighties, stuff like So Lonely by The Police, the Rolling Stones, Pop Music by M, Abba, the Doors, everything and all the original artists too. Yesterday, as I ate the pasta in the heat of the afternoon I was taken right back to lazy holidays in European resorts and just a second ago, when I was tucking in to the salmon I just felt good being there, by the poolside, alone with my own thoughts, looking at the city at night and the houses on the hillsides twinkling in the early evening darkness.

The pool and dining area if you wish to eat alfresco - perfect in every way

There's a pool and I enjoyed a swim yesterday afternoon, being careful to keep head above water (I don't want to go deaf for the remaining days I'm here). There's a gym, but I didn't use it.

So the rooms are great, the restaurant is fantastic, the breakfasts are to die for, the hotel staff respond very quickly to any problems or otherwise experienced by its guests, there are great bathrooms, pleasant staff and a great location. All-in-all, I would return to this great establishment. There are other hotels here in Monterrey, most of the big brands are here and then across from the Real Inn there is the SAFI hotel and, of course, the Quinta Real, which colleagues of mine have described as a bit dated, a little jaded, its time of greatness passed. I don't know, but I think the Real Inn probably knocks them all into a cocked hat, if that's the right expression.

First and foremost, however, this is a friendly hotel and it has a lively buzz to it without being pretentious in any way. In a nutshell, I can't really fault it and with that I'm going to bed.

Monterrey - you can't just go off alone on a pointless hike (more's the pity)

It was 0444hrs when I checked the iPhone. It's dark outside and all I can hear is the murmur of the traffic below me and a gentle hum that I assume is the hotel building. Outside, lights, like fallen stars, are dotted around, but that's about it. Most people are still asleep, not me. I'm awake. I probably woke up around 0300hrs and I soon realised there was no point in trying to get back to sleep, it simply wasn't going to happen. This happened yesterday too. There's been a full moon for the past couple of days and now the moon in question - there's only one moon - is high above me, higher than it was yesterday, but that might be to do with the time. Perhaps as the morning progresses and the mountains surrounding Monterrey become visible, the moon will come down off its high horse and greet me properly.

This city clearly isn't safe. It's fine here in the San Pedro district of town, but once outside of it, across the river, I get the feeling that I'm entering the badlands of drug cartels and Donald Trump's 'bad hombres'. Believe me, they exist. A colleague of mine paid a visit to the downtown and said he felt distinctly uncomfortable and stared at; he decided to hail a cab and get back to safety. Last night, the coach I was travelling in had a police escort - at least four motorcycle outriders and a cop car, but the police aren't safe either. Being here in the San Pedro district there's a mild feeling of being under siege and that out there, not that far away, are some dangerous people. Perhaps I'm over-egging things slightly, but I'm not sure.

Earlier this year, gangsters torched a restaurant that probably owed money to a cartel. Staff was jostled out and the place was set ablaze. "The arson was the act of would-be extortionists seeking to send a message," said one news report. The incident happened earlier in the year but the fear is that violence might return to this North Eastern Mexican city.

According to the same news report, Monterrey - home to 4.5 million people - has experienced a recent increase in violence 'reminiscent of the darkest days of 2010, 2011 and 2012, when murders were occurring at a pace of 2,000 per year.

It's not just people that have to worry: dogs and cats can find themselves on the streets too, according to a story in the Mexican News Daily. I've not yet found myself on the banks of the Santa Catarina river, but apparently if I take a stroll down there I'd find an infestation of stray dogs abandoned by people who simply don't want them anymore. Some 500 stray dogs are living along a 30km stretch of the river. In the San Nicolas de la Garza municipality of of the city there are an estimated 1.5 million stray cats and 500,000 dogs, according to Daniel Carillo, human development secretary of the area.

But let's get back to people and the question: is Monterrey safe? It's not even a case of the jury's out. I'd say it's not safe, but it seems safe enough in the San Pedro area of the city where I'm staying. Online advice says it's a fun city, but don't wear expensive jewellery, keep to public and crowded areas, never be alone and go everywhere by car. Uber drivers cannot be trusted according to one on-line report from Trip Advisor. Lastly, don't trust anybody. Seems like fair advice.

The hotel restaurant where breakfast is served...

Breakfast in the hotel is something to savour. There's plenty of choice and today I didn't have my usual scrambled eggs with diced potatoes. The reason for this was simple: there wasn't any. So I opted instead for what amounted to a Sunday roast: potatoes, beef and vegetables plus a vanilla tea, cereal and, of course, a yoghurt. When I'd polished off the lot I noticed that the scrambled egg had been replenished. If only I'd waited. But they always say eat a massive breakfast and have progressively less during the day so that's what I did.

For lunch I found myself back at the hotel and sat by the pool eating arabbiatta accompanied by a small glass of mineral water. The heat is stifling today and in the end I decided to have a swim in the pool. I was the only person in the water and I stayed there for around 20 minutes, swimming back and forth and savouring the heat. It took me back to pool holidays and long summers and was made even more evocative by the music, seventies hits, sixties hits, all with a summery, youthful overtone that made me feel really good inside. After drying I sat in a chair reading the most amazing book, Laurie Lee's As I Walked One Midsummer Morning. It has a sleepy, summery feel to it and blended well with the Mexican heat, the pool and the music. I was reminded of being on the Greek island of Spetses reading Graham Green novels like Our Man in Havana and The Comedians. Sometimes I have to pinch myself, and swimming around in a pool surrounded by Monterrey's mountains and skyscrapers was one of those occasions.

Earlier, a mint tea in Starbucks

It's 1645hrs and the sun is still scorching hot, but I'm back in my room with the air-con blasting away. Work is finished for the day, almost. I have a meeting tonight, but I've had a fairly chilled few hours and they were much needed.

The swim was about the only exercise I've had while in Mexico and when I get back home I need to start walking again as things had slowed down on that front. In fact, I was spending an inordinate amount of time in the Pop Inn Cafe, my favourite eating establishment, stuffing my face with chicken breast baguettes and apple pie and custard. I need to get back to my diet-conscious self again as I've been overloading on all sorts of rubbish including Bounty bars, biscuits, more bread than I need and it's got to stop. It tends to be things that begin with the letter B: bread, biscuits, buns and I suppose Bounty bars. Today I've been fairly good. I didn't have any pastries for breakfast as I figured having a roast dinner at 0700hrs put pastries out of bounds and, well, what else can I say? I want to get back on my bike and start cycling round the block again, except, of course, I'll have to accept that the weather won't be as hot as it is here in Mexico when I get back on Saturday morning.

In Monterrey, Mexico...

Once off the flight from Miami and through passport control, I found my suitcase on the baggage carousel and took a taxi to the hotel. The taxi driver didn't speak a word of English and because I don't speak Spanish we sat in silence for the drive from the airport. After going round in circles for a short while, we found the hotel and all was fine. I checked in at the front desk and I was having trouble staying awake, but soon I was given my key card (room 2612 on the top floor) and off I went. The lift required me to use my room card, which I did, and soon I arrived. All I wanted to do was sleep, but I couldn't. Or rather I could, but, well, there were problems. First, toothpaste. Oh, and a toothbrush. I'd forgotten to pack them. Within five minutes a man appeared at the door with a toothbrush, but no toothpaste so I walked to front desk, 26 floors below, and bought a small tube for 40 pesos. Finally, it was time for bed. Or was it? There was a throbbing, pulsating noise that I initially thought was the air-con, but no, it was the machinery used to power the elevators. The room shook and I soon realised that I was not going to sleep, not ever. I called reception. Five minutes elapsed and another man arrived. "Can't you hear it?" I said. He thought it was the air-con so I took him outside, into the corridor. "It's out here too," said I. They decided to re-house me, three floors down, in a junior suite with automatic curtains and a television that emerged from behind the desk. I wasn't impressed, but the room was quiet.

Room 2619 - nice but noisy, very noisy...

Room 2319 - nice and quiet...

I slept for about five hours and then found myself awake and calling home. All was well. I stayed up, started writing the last post, which was already written in longhand, and then took a shower. There's a rain shower and it was great and much needed. Breakfast was good too: scrambled egg, diced potatoes, yoghurt, cereal and three small pastries, not forgetting a vanilla tea. Afterwards I took a look at the pool and the gym - they have a stationary bike, two in fact, but I can only use one at a time. I then took a walk in the early morning sunshine on a quest to find a razor, shaving foam, everything. I bought a razor in a 7-Eleven, the only shop open in a huge mall, and then found a huge supermarket that sold massive flat-screen televisions, barbecue equipment, absolutely everything, even bananas. I bought a bunch of eight and moseyed on back to the room. I was still tired, but I went out again, the plan being to visit the restaurant recommended by Mike the flight attendant, but I couldn't get the ATM to work so instead I went to a pretentious restaurant where I ordered a chicken broth followed by artichoke risotto. I wasn't that keen if I'm honest. When the soup arrived I thought they'd messed up. A bowl of diced chicken and vegetables was put before me, but it wasn't soup. I thought it was a chicken salad. Ah! I get it, the guy had a jug of hot broth in his hands and proceeded to pour it over the vegetables making it a kind of vegetable soup. Yeah, right. In my book if you need a fork to eat it, it's not soup. I needed a fork. The risotto was equally unappealing. A kind of beige mush like something a cat brought up, with crunchy bits. I was glad when it was over as I also had to fend off a gang of flies intent on eating my food. I ordered sparkling mineral water on ice and then remembered that perhaps I shouldn't be having ice, not here, not in Mexico. I felt like booking ahead for an appointment with my toilet. "Shall we say three in the morning, sir?" That'll do nicely. Not! My arse is in the lap of the gods. Let's hope it's not a problem.

View from room 2319...

More views from room 2319...

I returned to the hotel and decided to lie down for an hour. I set the alarm and 60 minutes later was awakened by David Bowie. "Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere...". I need to register for a conference I'm attending tomorrow so what do I do? I sit here, like I am right now, writing this blog. Well, I've got to get dressed and go.

Did I mention the view from my room? No? It's amazing: the city, the mountains, wonderful (see photos above). Transmission by Joy Division is blasting out of my iPhone. "Radio, live transmission...". After this track I'm heading on out, it's 1644hrs here, the sun is out, it's hot and I need to register, then I can relax.

It's now 2137hrs, I've attended a cocktail reception and now I'm back in my room. The air-con is on and it's got to go off soon because there's a cold breeze and it's not good.