Today I just feel like sharing a photo I took in the exhibit on Islamic Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The exhibit as described – “Fifteen galleries grouped by geographic region trace the course of Islamic civilization from Spain in the West to India in the East” – contained intricately woven Oriental carpets, massive wooden carvings and doors, Turkmen jewelry, plates and bowls, hand painted manuscripts, beautiful Ottoman tile and Persian paintings of emperors among pomegranate and spice laden feasts that could not help but intrigue.  Relics dating from 1299!  Just incredible to see.  The museum, as always, was so engrossing that I could have spent weeks there, and the few hours we were able to linger within inspired awe.

The adventure began when I was initially turned back by security for trying to stuff a hot pretzel into my purse as I walked in the door (well, I had just bought it, I belatedly realized I couldn’t eat it inside and I wasn’t done).  So I had to stand outside the door in the cold to finish it, cramming it into my face as quickly as possible, like a little kid.  I guess I could have tossed it, but… I was so hungry!

Entire rooms of ancient carpets! Gorgeous painted and glazed bowls and plates in shades of deepest turquoise.  Through other rooms and on the way out, massive Bodhisattvas and Egyptian bas relief.  Almost impossible to tear yourself away.

Being in such a setting (and perhaps because of my pretzel incident), I could not help but recall the magic and fantasy of Claudia and Jamie Kincaid’s adventures living in the museum in From the Mixed–up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, By E. L. Konigsburg.  Do you remember the pleasure of reading that when you were a kid?

What a wonderous world this is………..

~*~