Getting to the Cloisters - NYC
Mar 20th, 2014, 01:21 PM
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Getting to the Cloisters - NYC
We are planning a visit to the Cloisters. Normally, when we go to NYC, we park our car and take public transportation for the duration of our stay.
However, I wonder if it would be worth driving to the Cloisters. We will be staying at the Travel Inn - which I think is Midtown West (near the Lincoln Tunnel).
Is parking available?
However, I wonder if it would be worth driving to the Cloisters. We will be staying at the Travel Inn - which I think is Midtown West (near the Lincoln Tunnel).
Is parking available?
Mar 20th, 2014, 01:37 PM
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Mar 20th, 2014, 07:01 PM
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I'll disagree. While parking there is pretty easy on most days, I'd still take the A train then you can walk through the park or take the bus. But it really depends on the day. There's a lot of traffic on the west side highway, and I'd rarely choose to drive in Manhattan if given the choice. The only reason I might consider it in your case is the ease if access to the west side highway from your hotel.
Mar 20th, 2014, 07:31 PM
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It sounds like either option is doable. I'll ask DH how he feels about driving since the A train is a good option too.
We have been pleased with the Travel Inn since it includes parking and is so easy to get to. Plus, last year when we left an item, they found it and sent it back to us without even charging for the postage. Brownie points!
We have been pleased with the Travel Inn since it includes parking and is so easy to get to. Plus, last year when we left an item, they found it and sent it back to us without even charging for the postage. Brownie points!
Mar 21st, 2014, 05:39 AM
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We treated the subway/bus route up and bus route back (took 2 different routes) the cheapest possible tours of parts of Manhattan we wouldn't otherwise see. Admittedly, we are not good at unfamiliar-city driving, and NYC seemed the most intimidating possible in the US.
Mar 21st, 2014, 07:44 PM
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BTW, the best subway station for The Cloisters is the "A" train stop at 190 St. The second best stop is 191 on the "1" line, which the deepest subway station in the system.
Over my desk is photo a rosary bead made from boxwood found at the Cloisters. It is a tribute to craftsmanship, single-mindedness, devotion, and insanity.
http://www.metmuseum.org/search-resu...y+bead&x=0&y=0
Over my desk is photo a rosary bead made from boxwood found at the Cloisters. It is a tribute to craftsmanship, single-mindedness, devotion, and insanity.
http://www.metmuseum.org/search-resu...y+bead&x=0&y=0
Mar 30th, 2014, 02:50 PM
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As a follow-up, we drove there. It was quick and easy.
I made a point to see the amazing rosary bead that IMDonehere mentioned. It is no longer in the lower level, but now is in a room pretty much above where it used to be (according to the guard/docent).
There was plenty of free parking when we were there. The same might not be true during a busier season.
I made a point to see the amazing rosary bead that IMDonehere mentioned. It is no longer in the lower level, but now is in a room pretty much above where it used to be (according to the guard/docent).
There was plenty of free parking when we were there. The same might not be true during a busier season.
Mar 30th, 2014, 04:51 PM
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Yes - it is a great place. I am in the midst of writing up a trip report and will write a little more about it there. I found it confusing at first.
The docent/guard who I asked about the rosary bead was great. She'd hurried everyone in the nearby room into the treasury where we were. Of course that piqued my interest. Someone was getting ready to replace a devotional book (something like "The book of hours" except in French). She was so excited about it that we talked to her for a while. Evidently, they periodically remove things to check them out. When they put the book back, they opened it to a new page. She was so excited to see what it was that it made us interested too (of course, we hadn't seen the original pages).
She told us that she'd visited Ireland once and went to a museum daily to see what page they'd turned a certain book to. Her mom, who was with her, thought she was a bit daft.
In another room, a worker was working on a burial crypt and we could watch. There was a checklist to show what they had already done. She was in the step of cleaning it.
The docent/guard who I asked about the rosary bead was great. She'd hurried everyone in the nearby room into the treasury where we were. Of course that piqued my interest. Someone was getting ready to replace a devotional book (something like "The book of hours" except in French). She was so excited about it that we talked to her for a while. Evidently, they periodically remove things to check them out. When they put the book back, they opened it to a new page. She was so excited to see what it was that it made us interested too (of course, we hadn't seen the original pages).
She told us that she'd visited Ireland once and went to a museum daily to see what page they'd turned a certain book to. Her mom, who was with her, thought she was a bit daft.
In another room, a worker was working on a burial crypt and we could watch. There was a checklist to show what they had already done. She was in the step of cleaning it.
