Friday was a museum day.

Despite living in New York for the past almost-four years (next month is our Manhattan anniversary), there are still a zillion things that I haven't done in the city. That's one of the many reasons I love living here - my list is always endless, & sort of overwhelming. Not working the past few months (oh my gosh - it's been two) has been such a blessing in disguise in so many ways - one of which being that I've fallen in love with my city even more. 

Friend Lizzie & I met up (WAY up - 190th Street) at The Cloisters yesterday morning. It was such a spectacular morning & I took the time to walk around Fort Tyron Park & the gardens before Lizzie arrived. I called my mom because I was so excited - I was ALONE. Seriously, all alone. I couldn't see a single other human being for about 20 minutes. It was so quiet & beautiful overlooking the Hudson River & the George Washington Bridge. It's hard to find spots like that in New York. One of my favorite moments was when I saw a little boy get out of a cab with his father outside of the museum. He spun around in a circle & said, Dad! Look! No cars! It's so quiet! He was totally amazed.

The Cloisters are home to a collection of medieval art & architecture. While that probably isn't the kind of art that I'm most interested in, it was a lovely museum to visit. I kept telling Lizzie that it felt like we had taken a day trip to a European castle. 

We polished off our morning with a trip to Kitchenette. I ordered the banana pancakes, because I may have gone the day before with friend Corinne - & ordered my usual breakfast burrito + cheese grits - & I may have secretly coveted her banana pancakes. They were so good.

GW Bridge. We can see it from our apartment window, although it looks much smaller from where we are. 

Dad, look! I saw wildlife! 

A la DC. 

I. Love. Cobblestone.

I wasn't very good at noting what was what, but I know this door was OLD. 14th century, I think. I love doors. 

Pretty friend Lizzie + me. 

After a brief respite at home, I went on to meet friend Amy at The Guggenheim. I really like modern art (I really love the MOMA). It was very interesting to go to The Guggenheim. Their collection of modern & contemporary art was far more abstract than anything ever seen, & honestly, 98% of the pieces / exhibits had me really shaking my head in total confusion. The most bizarre: a very dark room with very strange lighting that made you kind of dizzy & nauseous, complete with neon shapes hanging from the ceiling & an almost indescribable piercing noise that sort of felt like futuristic torture. Oh - & there was a sign outside the door that said, Exhibit may alter psychological state. AND they made you take off your shoes. Yikes. 

Our favorite, I think - the Tehching Hsieh One Year Performance, Punching the Time Clock exhibit. For one year, every hour on the hour, 7 days a week, this man punched a time card & took a photo of himself in the same spot, wearing the same clothes. His head was initially shaved, & you can watch the passage of time by observing his hair grow & grow (& grow). Very interesting, although Amy & I agreed that he was probably OCD instead of the genius that the curator suggested (I don't accept her argument that his total exhaustion led to greater intellectual abilities).

The actual structure of the Guggenheim is copyrighted (?!), so you aren't allowed to take photos anywhere other than the main floor. I got yelled at once & decided to be obedient.