Today's MOZEN: Like An Old Friend

Words and photos by F LoBuono

It's one of the best kept secrets in New York: The Cloisters Museum and Garden. Opened in 1938, The Cloisters is located on four bucolic acres in upper Manhattan's Fort Tryon Park, The complex is maintained as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The main building, although it appears as such, is not a duplication of any one particular building from ancient Europe. Rather, it's an amalgamation of a few different ones representing the Romanesque (1000-1150) and Gothic (1150-1520) periods. Some of the modern building itself incorporates parts of structures taken from the European structures it hopes to represent. All in all, it gives one the impression of being in an authentic Tuscan palazzo.

Inside it's huge rooms with vaulted ceilings contain some of the finest tapestries and medieval art in existence. It is rarely crowded and, so, its quite easy to tarry in each room. Despite its size there is still an intimacy about the place. It is so palpable that you find yourself whispering even though you have not been asked to. Sun light pours through the many windows, flooding the rooms with an almost heavenly glow. Inner courtyard gardens provide even further access to more contemplative endeavours.

I used to visit quite regularly when I was a young man. I always found a sense of peace at The Cloisters. In fact, it became quite special. My love interest at the time and I spent many afternoons there in quiet reflection, enjoying the peace and each others company. Then, for some reason, We broke up and I stopped going. I'm not sure why. I suppose that perhaps, after I started traveling to Europe to experience original Romanesque and Gothic art and structures, it lost some of its appeal.

Be that as it may, it drifted from my consciousness. That is until I reconnected with the lover I had known so many years ago. We talked frequently about going back but never made the time - until this weekend. We had a free afternoon and decided to go.

And, it was as we remembered it.

It was not crowded and we moved freely from room to room. The day was unseasonably warm so we tarried on the terraces and took in the spectacular views up and down the Hudson. Brilliant sunshine streamed through the impressive collection of stained glass, projecting brilliant colors throughout the interior. We were transported back in time - not only in world history, but in our own personal one, as well. Like visiting an old friend that we hadn't seen in some time, it was if we hadn't been away at all.