Living in New York City, sometimes the constant noise of people, cars, trucks, bikes, and other urban noises, the rushing around, the crowds--modern life in general---make you forget about the simple joys of doing nothing. You no longer remember the small things, and stress begins to take over.
When this begins to happen to me, I have my remedy, and this involves traveling to an exotic place that does not require an airplane or a passport---even better-- you don't even have to leave Manhattan. This wonderful place is The Cloisters located in the northern part of the island at Fort Tryon Park.
This place resembles a Medieval Abbey, with gardens and buildings reflecting the architecture of Europe from about the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries. Once inside the place, you encounter the art, music, and gardens dating back from the ninth to the sixteenth centuries. And suddenly the modern world is left far behind, as you wander throughout the gardens and the galleries getting a glimpse of a life from long ago.
Since The Cloisters are located in a four-acre setting, overlooking the Hudson River, the views from there are simply magnificent. The sense of serenity that is all around you, truly make you believe that you have left the modern world behind--as your very soul feels that is is being refreshed, reborn. When you leave this great place--life seems to acquire meaning again. Find out how to get there and as a favor to yourself, visit this oasis in the midst of the modern chaos.
