Sunday, December 09, 2012

V is for VAULTS GARDEN CAFE

My friend Anne and I were valiant vagabonds as we strolled towards Radcliffe Square in Oxford. Suddenly, we came upon a couple of bicycles leaning against the stone wall.  Each had a basket full of colourful vegetation and a sign indicating a cafe that welcomed one and all - the Vaults Garden Cafe.  It is named the Vaults because of its proximity to the Radcliffe and Bodleian Libraries - an apt name, I thought. Although we didn't go in (no time), I did stop and take a few shots of the bikes as they were indicative of the area, the contemporary yet historic heart of Oxford.  The cafe opened in 2003 and offers unpretentious hospitality, local organic food, a vibrant environment, and affordability.  The cafe will provide picnic blankets so you can dine on the lawns or you can sit inside the "Old Congregation House" with its vaulted ceilings, which dates from 1320. Next time I'm in Oxford on vacation, I'll definitely pop in for a bite to eat, preferably on the lawns.

I played around with my two photos of the bikes and I hope you like them.  Sometimes it's fun just to see what you can do with colour and saturation even though the photo may not look "real."  They are vibrant, though, and I feel victorious about being able to do this! First, one original -

and then my vicarious thrill of changing colours.

Then the other original -


 and my other attempt at variety.
Venerable thanks to Mrs. Nesbitt, founder and creator of ABC Wednesday and her valiant sidekick, Roger, who has taken over the administrative reins of the site.   We have been very fortunate in having voluminous posts on ABCW but without our volunteers to assist with the visitations, poor Roger and Mrs. Nesbitt would be vulnerable to virtual exhaustion.  So if you'd like to participate in visiting about 10 posts per week, please contact Roger here at ABC Wednesday.

31 comments:

  1. Thanks for the plug.

    Like the post, but your avatar struggling to get on the bike was rather humorous!

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  2. Wow! I am impressed with the number of "v" words you came up with in a relatively short narrative! Very good!

    I liked the variations of your bicycle photos, too.

    Take care.

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  3. Love all of the photos leslie - thanks for the ad. Have a good week.
    Dxxx

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  4. Nice bikes! My kind of place for a coffee and cake too.

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  5. Love the treatment on the photos.
    It's too bad you couldn't visit that place. It seems delightful.
    Of course that's the reason you must return.

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  6. Love the photo effects! and the variety of v words :)

    v is for...

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  7. the photos are gorgeous. and i love the phrase valiant vagabond :)

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  8. I love them all! Now I have to go look at the avatar as I missed it struggling to get on the bike!

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  9. Sounds and looks like a lovely place. The bicycle advertising is great.
    Ann

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  10. It is fun trying different effects on a photo, isn't it? I would love to go to the Vaults Garden Cafe because scones are one of my favorite treats.

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  11. Great photos and choice for V for ABC ~

    (A Creative Harbor) aka, artmusedog and Carol ^_^

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  12. It's fun to play around with editing photos .... Most probably our creative streak coming to the fore.
    I love the last bike capture.... wonderful ambiance.

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  13. Great post. I love those decorated bikes and what you did with them.

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  14. Oh I just love your posts! Those photos are awesome. Thank you!

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  15. A garden AND afternoon tea, a winning combination. I image Oxford is a very good place for tea rooms. Looks like you had fun playing with the photos, I like bike adverts.

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  16. Ordinary Words....love the vintage bikes♫♪

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  17. Never mind the bikes! I'll take the fresh scones and clotted cream -- and strawberry jam of course. (But that was really a great V post.)

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  18. I was telling my daughter who came from Singapore. there was this English nurse who was killed in an accident. Her friends chained the bike to the spot she was killed. Every now and then, people put flowers in the basket. One day, some idiot stole the bike. It was a modern bike, not an antique like yours.

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  19. Absolutely lovely photos of the cafe sign! One thing that thrills me about England is its old age, the fabulous history! Is the Bodleian Library open to the public?

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  20. I love the way you 'coloured' your bike shots. Very pretty. I never learnt how to do it and am too lazy to just go and find out.

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  21. Oh my, this looks like a wonderful place to spend an afternoon! I adore your bike shots too!!

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  22. This is exactly the type of places I look for to unwind with a cup of tea. Adorable!
    Laurie @ Pride in Photos

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  23. I love the bike photos! A blogger friend who lives in England once posted a similar bike advertising a tearoom, but in a different part of England! Must be a somewhat popular method of English tearoom "signage!" :-) I can see why, it's very charming!

    My favorites of your bike photos are the first and the last. They're lovely!

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  24. I loved every one of your bike photos and that vigorously pedalling cyclist in the avatar was veritably hilarious! The Vaults Garden Cafe was in a beautiful vicinity, and with picnic baskets provided, seems an ideal spot for lunch.

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  25. Oh, verynice editing Leslie, - I especially like what you have done with the second bike.

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  26. Gives very nice results ! I like to play around with pictures too ! I remember Oxford with its bicycles I almost felt like in Amsterdam where you find more bicycles then inhabitants !

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  27. I love the idea of using the old bike as a signage.

    V is for..
    Rose, ABC Wednesday Team

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  28. I loved these bikes Leslie ,, great way to advertise the cafe too. xox

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  29. Looks like you are having fun. I love the bikes. - Margy

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  30. It is interesting to try different effect pictures, isn't it? I would love to go to the garden cafe's Treasury because they are my favorite treat.
    Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys

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  31. Love all of the photos leslie - thanks for the ad. Have a good week.

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