SOLITUDE IN A BUSTLING WORLD

Hello there!
Midterms are finally over, and we are headed straight to one of my favorite holidays-Thanksgiving. I'm excited for it every year because aside from it being focused around gratitude and family, it is a holidayfholholiday whith extra room for creativity and making things by hand. There is not as much time now for me as there was last year but I've uncovered some beautiful crafts we can make in a short time which I'll be sharing with you in another post. But since we are on the topic of holidays, I might take the opportunity to note how thankful I am for the brief break they offer.
I read an old article yesterday from Elle magazine on the therapeutic aspects of quiet time. It went on to note an emerging trend in seeking solitude that one can find in a far away hidden-in-the-woods monastery and so on. However, it got me thinking of us less prosperous fellows, who might not be able to or even desire to close ourselves for a short time in a convent just to find solitude. Then I remembered of the tow places I go to, right in the middle of a bustling, crowded always talking New York:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the library (preferably the Institute of Fine Arts one or the NYPL on 5th ave).

The Met you might say gets very crouded and noisy, and may wonder how on earth can someone fisolitude. Well, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. There are times (like very early in the morning, or later in the evening on Fridays) when people are either fewer or quieter. In addition, there are spots which attract less noisier crouds, like the crypt below the Great Stairs and the general area of the Modern Art section which is due to move soon. But aside from moments and areas like this, once you sit on a spot and zone out, focusing on an artwork in front of you, or the people passing by you can almost hear your heart slowing down and getting up to leave is out of the question. I can sit for hours staring at the Kouros in the Jaharis hall, or the Pollock in modern and only feel the time pass through the people who seem to come to and fro almost as shadows.
The library may be a more obvious selection.

I love getting there early in the morning, picking a spot, with a hot mug of tea and just sitting there reading. Sure, you will occasionally get that one fellow who is a bit more clutzy than even you, making noise til they settle down but you know...that's the charm of it too.
Finally, one more thing that can grant you immense calm right in the city is a rooftop at a nice warm day. I will never pass an opportunity as such.

And who could blame me with a view like this one...but I am curious...where do you seek quiet and solitude when not at home? In fact, do you seek it at all?