So what is a Cloister?, you might ask. Well, "in a monastery, the cloister is a square or rectangular open-air courtyard surrounded by covered passageways. It is always situated next to the monastic church, and its use is limited to the monks. The surrounding covered passageways lead to rooms essential to the secluded and regimented monastic life...[and] a garden with a water source was often located in the center of the cloister." This sign outside the first cloister in the museum gives the full detailed description of this garden area, but not the true ambience.

When we first entered the museum, we had no idea what to expect, and were immediately given an odd feeling. Neither myself nor my girlfriend are huge fans or over done religious icons plastered on every wall and the gospels displayed everywhere, and here it all was, right in front of us. The first room we entered was a old reconstruction of the inside of a church, without any pews set up. In here, we were informed that the walls on the left side were originally from some church in Europe that existed in the medieval times, while the rest was built to replicate it and make it whole. I actually found out that most of the Cloisters Museum was like this since most of the old medieval churches had been destroyed over time by war, weathering, and poor upkeep.

Now, each one of these religiously influenced rooms lead its way outside into the first of three bigger cloisters the museum has to offer; The Cuxa Cloister Garth Garden. Here there were four crab apple trees set up in each corner, apparently a staple in medieval times for the creations of cider and medieval verjuice. The next garden was the Trie Cloister Garden, which overlooks the entrance way that most use when coming in. It was here, while observing the different plants and the amazing view that a bird, after eating away some blueberry plants, decided to fly over head and take a crap on me. He hit me dead center on the side of the side and it is so hard to get that out, digested blueberry juice. The last big cloister was the Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden which is full of different fruit and herb plants that were typically used in medieval times.

After an exhausting day of religious artifacts and tombs and cloisters, we decided that it was time to head back to Queens and prepare for the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks celebration and some much needed July 4th cocktails.

The Cloisters is located at the far north end of Manhattan and contains most of the medieval holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. To get there, the M4 bus takes you right to the door or the subway will get you to the south end of Fort Tryon Park and you can walk to the Cloisters. However, we opted to take a taxi. From Columbus Circle, it was $19 and less than 20 minutes to the door of the Cloisters.

The buildings of the Cloisters were custom constructed to incorporate bits from structures, mostly churches from France and Spain, into a setting which gives you the feeling that you are experiencing those buildings as they would have been during the Middle Ages. Thus, you can walk around the apse from a Spanish church built during the 1100s, or a 13th century chapter house or a French abbey with its courtyard. Most of the doorways are from a medieval structure. One of the rooms contains a photographic display explaining the history of the Cloisters. It is almost unfathomable to think of what it took to gather all of these things and put them together. I cannot imagine this being done today.

There are also numerous other artworks and artifacts. The beautiful, large unicorn tapestries in the tapestry room, the Campin tryptych with its early Renaissance elements, and the intricately illuminated page from a Book of Hours which used to belong to a Queen of France are particularly notable.

Guided tours and audio tours are available, but we opted to view at our own pace. There are little plaques beside the various pieces and some larger notices which provide details and in some cases, a great deal of information.

I particularly liked the garden with plants which would be found in a medieval garden. It was a sunny day when we visited and the garden setting was beautiful. The Cloisters includes a casual cafeteria which permits you to sit in or around a courtyard area and enjoy the surroundings. Because it is on a hill, you get some views across the Hudson River to New Jersey.

You can also wander around Fort Tryon Park which has what they describe as a quiet zone, although the drone of traffic from the Hudson Parkway could always be heard. Nevertheless, it was an escape into some green space and unlike Central Park, there were very few others around. The New Leaf Café is located in the Park.

The Cloisters is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 9:30am to 5:15pm. $20 is recommended as admission. It will also admit you on the same day to the main Metropolitan Museum. The website for both museums is www.metmuseum.org.

Located in Fort Tryon Park, all the way up in the northwestern part of Manhattan, The Cloisters are definitely off the beaten path. Way off. So far off that even on weekends they don't usually get too crowded. That said, they're worth the trip, even if you only go for the stained glass and the Unicorn tapestries. The gardens are usually worth a look too, especially in spring and summer, and there's a good view of some of the last parts of New Jersey not yet turned into suburb.   

The building itself is mostly modern, built as ligament for an assortment of medieval architectural elements (including, yes, a few cloisters). But what it contains is also worth looking at - not just tapestries, but a whole slew of medieval stuff, mostly religious but some secular items too.   

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, of which this place is a branch, just raised its recommended donation to $20 for adults (less for students, kids and seniors), but in theory this is only a recommendation. They will make a point to tell you that you can also do the Met on the same day for no further charge, but who can look at that much art in one day?   

GETTING THERE: Take the uptown A to 191st Street. There's only one way off the platform, and there are signs from there to the exit. If the weather's good and you don't mind stairs, you can walk - turn right and go through the park via the garden. But if it's raining, or has snowed recently, you should definitely wait for the M4 bus, which stops in front of the exit from the subway.

Perched atop a timberline ridge overlooking the Hudson River Valley is one of NYC's finest museums that tends to receive undue patronage. The Cloisters, featuring medieval relics and recreated gardens from some of Europe's grandest cathedrals, is blessed with reverence and natural tranquility with its distant northern location. Opened to the public in 1938, works of religious art and architecture styles, from the Romanesque and Gothic eras spanning more than 500 years, are showcased within 17 different sectors.

The museum itself combines an ancient rural church facade with regal castle qualities, perhaps the biggest disappointment being that the bell tower isn't open for elevated viewings. A coolness permeates the stone core through dungeon-like hallways that open into mini-chapels that have incorporated structure parts from churches and cathedrals across Europe. Intricate carvings and details within the pieces are clearly labeled with significance outlined on fine-print placards that are rather difficult to read in the darkened interiors, which also deters viewing, especially in the tapestry rooms. Consider bringing a pen flashlight and reading glasses. Photo opportunities are limited, with flash photography prohibited.

Some of the most impressive pieces of chalices and religious icons of precious metals are tucked away in the air-controlled Campin Room, easily overlooked with its small, closed entry. Don't miss the glass case displaying 52 odd-shaped, oversized items that are numbered and in four different styles. They're believed to be one of the first decks of playing cards. Other museum must-sees include the Gothic Chapel burial vaults and the Glass Gallery.

However, most impressive are the four separate cloisters that have been reassembled representing different Middle Age periods from the south of France and Pyrénées regions. The smallest is the Saint-Guilhem Cloister, with the most intricate and ornate detail, especially within the support columns that surround the marbled center. The Cuxa Cloister is heart of the museum and most traditional. During winter, the area is enclosed with glass to maintain a year-round outdoor setting.

On the lower level, the Bonnefort Cloister takes on more of a garden atmosphere without the open-air, covered walkways that enclose most cloisters. Benches are scattered about the plants. A waist-high wall surrounds the area featuring placid views of Fort Tryon Park and the River Valley that sprawls beyond. At the admissions desk, when first entering, make sure to pick up the brochure entitled Garden's of the Cloisters, which gives detail to religious and medicinal purposes of why gardens held such importance.

The back wall with stone-arched porticos peers into the Trie Cloister, which doubles as museum-café from May to October. Tables line narrow passageways which hem a small, peaceful garden centered with traditional sculpted fountain. Sandwiches start at $7.50, and chips, fruit,and other snacks/drinks are $2.50+.

The Scoop: The $15 admission fee is also good for touring the Metropolitan Museum of Art along Fifth Avenue. Depending on timeframe, they sometimes allow a 48-hour usage period. If not, play stupid and go anyway. Admission fee is only suggested.

The Cloisters in upper Manhattan is a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum is actually a cluster of four reconstructed monastic cloisters housing a large collection of medieval tapestries, statues, religious artifacts, and paintings. Another highlight is the gardens! Each cloister has its own garden, planted true to records of monastery gardens in the Middle Ages. If you really want to save money, you can visit The Cloisters and The Met on the same day, as your ticket covers both ($12 adults, $9 seniors/students). It's easy to make a day trip out of The Cloisters; however, as Fort Tryon park itself is very relaxing, with fantastic gardens and views of the George Washington Bridge.