From an urban monk:

The early monks did have the advantage of cultivating silence alone in their cells, and then could go plant potatoes with their brothers or sisters. They did have that advantage as compared to cultivating silence and a listening spirit in heavy traffic. I’m sure in that sense, caves were a bit more conducive to prayer. But few of us have caves in our lives. Jesus seems to have kept finding gardens. That we can do, or even parks. I think the old practices are still possible regardless.

Making art for me is also a sort of urban garden.

And if the final city is a gardened city with streams as Revelation seems to image, then it must be possible to meet God in our busy city lives.

Anyway, those caves, probably had snakes and scorpions anyhow. I prefer city parks.