Vinci's opposite Newcastle Anglican cathedral

I actually did this one on Monday, when it was raining but Newburn had not yet been swept away, nor all transport links out of the north east severed by the storms.  I'd spotted it when driving through the city and made a mental note to visit. 

Vinci's is compact, very much geared to the lunchtime trade and with a bias to savoury rather than sweet.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed drinking my tea (proper cup and teapot!) and munching my kitkat  sitting at the window watching as Newcastle squelched its soggy way past me.  Daytime TV in the cafe was something I hadn't come across before and as a non-TV person I could have done without it, but it wasn't intrusive.

One to visit again?  It's central, it's eat-in, it's reasonably priced...what the heck - add it to the list!

The cafe, Newcastle Central Library

You may think I have been slacking in the cafe crawl as I haven't published anything new for a few days.  I say no!  I have been revisiting and have posted comments on the original entries, and I am planning and scheming to visit new places soon.  It seems there truly is no end to the cafes in Newcastle.

Today, for example, found me in the Central Library with several possible choices for revisits or new places all within a short distance.  What to do?  I decided to stay put and visit the library cafe which though I have walked past many times I have never visited (see what I mean about no end of cafes?)

At lunchtime the place was pleasantly full.  The ambience is clean, uncluttered, businesslike, and it is light and airy.  I ordered tea and cake, and the staff were quick to point out the special offer which would save me a few pence.  Cake and tea were up to standard I'm pleased to report, and  I sat and munched looking out on Princess Square.  Princess Square:  how could we brighten it up?  Guerilla knitting, maybe?  The ramps up to Bewick Court have a distinctly unfinished look to them, as if the bare concrete should be covered over by colourful mosaics or other artwork but the money ran out, or the council didn't get re-elected - oh I don't know! 

Now I must confess why I was looking out instead of people watching down the cafe.  I was in a corner, dear reader, sneakily chomping my own lunch of crackers and cheese.  There, I've said it.  I only managed one cracker before I was overcome by guilt - but at least my library books aren't late.

Cafe 9 Altars, Durham

It was a pleasure to be in Durham on one of my rare Saturdays off.  After participating in a dance celebration of the life of St Cuthbert at the cathedral (that's another story, and possibly another blog!), I made my way down Sadler Street and Silver Street to the little cut that leads to a favourite haunt - Cafe 9 Altars. I haven't visited it for ages and it was pleasing to sit again in the decked area outside and watch the trees and the river while sipping my tea and munching my big ginger biscuit (£1.95 the lot).  Couples sat and talked, people wandered down from the cathedral and along the riverside, even new students were arriving I think.  Durham was bathed in golden sunshine as the season turned to autumn.

There are some things money can't buy, the atmosphere of Durham is one of them.  But if you want an inexpensive way to sit and savour it, Cafe 9 Altars is the way to go for my money.