The Cloisters

On our first full day in New York we focused on The Cloisters - a branch of the Metropolitan museum of art. It is located in Fort Tryon, quite a distance away from midtown. since we didn't know any better we took a taxi. The museum consists of a collection of monastery bits and pieces which were purchased in Europe from impoverished areas, largely Spain and France. They are filled with religious art and statuary from Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Spain.

Included are several monastery gardens, as you can see below. The overall effect is very spiritual and calming.

We enjoyed our stay very much, but eventually we had to head back to the city - this time we found and successfully used the subway.

Below the skyline from the East River

We did quite a bit of walking around the city (ok, midtown Manhattan) and central park. After two weeks in the flatlands, driving through areas with few people and little "low rise" towns, New York is truly impressive.

Not only the buildings, but the vitality and diversity of the people in the streets. Ok, at this time  a lot of them are foreign tourists, but there are plenty of locals as  well and they also come from every corner of the world. This is  definitely not Wyoming!

42nd Street

Broadway

Our next stop was Lower Manhattan and Ellis Island

The Cloisters Ellis Island; Museums; Natural History NYC Transportation Monticello  Richmond Williamsburg Charleston Savannan-Montgomery

Natchez Monmouth Longwood Vicksburg; Santa Rosa Painted Desert  Petrified Forest Winslow Grand Canyon