Some Random Popular Posts
Next day – still headed to Cherbourg…
…further along this road, I arrived at my lodgings for the night… Formerly a command post for the Knights Templar… From their website: Moulin Banal: former name of the Moulin des Templiers In 1167 next to the river is located the Moulin Banal (attached to the Commandery of Knights Templar… Read more
Listening to Strauss where STRAUSS played Strauss!
I booked this event weeks ago and have been looking forward to it ever since. Not only was the Kursalon on my bucket list, but the thought of going to a Strauss concert and listening to Strauss music being played where STRAUSS himself used to play his compositions… Bliss! The… Read more
They built train tracks before there was a train…
Anyone who has seen “Under the Tuscan Sun” (or if you are like me and have seen it so many times you could just about recite the entire script), will recognise the following: Martini: Signora, between Austria and Italy, there is a section of the Alps called the Semmering. It… Read more
Basilica di San Lorenzo
The Basilica di San Lorenzo is one of the largest churches of Florence, Italy. It is right near the centre of the main market district of Florence, and it is the burial place of all the principal members of the Medici family from Cosimo il Vecchio to Cosimo III. … Read more
Bonfire Night, Hastings Old Town, East Sussex
What a magnificent night! I have never experienced anything like it. Will provide full details later, but at least want to get the photos up… Read more
Tuxford’s Working Windmill
Setting out on a beautiful crisp morning, I went in search of Tuxford, first it’s mill and then it’s horse museum… One of only six working windmills left in Britain, the Tuxford Windmill is the only independent working windmill in Nottinghamshire and uses grain grown in the field adjacent to the… Read more
Piazza di San Firenze
Piazza di San Firenze Located behind Palazzo Vecchio and close to Bargello, Piazza di San Firenze was named after a building dedicated to St. Florenzo. It was originally designed in the 15th century by Giuliano da San Gallo and expanded in the 19th century. In 1994, during roadworks, a section… Read more
Palace of the Deposits and Consignments
After visiting the Stavropoleos Monastery, and wandering past the beautiful and also historic Negresco (built 1883)… …I continued wandering around the Old Town and meandered past the beautiful Palace of the Deposits and Consignments. It is the headquarters of the CEC Bank that began construction in 1897 and was completed… Read more
Staying in a glorious thirteenth-century inn
Leaving dear old London town, I ventured a little south for my next stop – an inn originally built in 1285… Welcome to the Crown Inn that was not only build over 800 years ago, but in 1552 King Edward VI visited, and so too did his elder sister, Queen… Read more
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Furry pony on the beach
11 out of 10 on the cuteness scale… teaching a furry fluffy pony to jump – it was sooooooo cute! Read more
Historic Exeter Quayside
Exeter Quayside is such a beautiful tucked-away gem that dates back to Roman times. It was a thriving port until the 14th century when weirs were built across the River Exe. Read more
A Sherman Tank in England..?
On this magical day, we set out to explore the Sherman tank that now sits beside a beach in South Devon – but first, a stop for lunch… …and finally we reach Slapton Sands, home of a recovered Sherman tank… ~ Bella Read more
Dartmoor River Crossing
It was a glorious day so George Jeep (rental) and I went for a meander… First, sitting at one of my favourite spots for some reading… …then off to cross the River Dart… Note – this phone box actually has a TELEPHONE in it! …and complete with seals frolicking… (ok,… Read more
Canada owns part of Britain?
Yes, Canada does actually own part of Britain! Welcome to Wolford Chapel… where the building and land are publicly owned by the Canadian province of Ontario, and flies the Flag of Canada despite the chapel being in the English countryside! ~ Bella Read more
Thatched Pub Built in 1620
We first were headed here – but alas, no one was home, so we went in search of another beautiful old pub – and didn’t have to travel far… The Kings Arms, Tedburn, built in 1620… …next stop – CANADA..? ~ Bella Read more
Who is the Luxurious Nomad?
Hello! I am Ms (Leigh) Bella St John – and I am an author, entrepreneur, coach, wine-lover, self-confessed geek, lover of all things Victorian/Edwardian and steampunk, and a Luxurious Nomad!
One of my greatest passions is ‘keeping history alive’.
Thanks to the residual income streams I created from, among other things, licensing my professional development programs, I retired at age 50 when I decided to leave America (where I had been living for the past ten years) and now travel the world fulltime as a Luxurious Nomad (http://LuxuriousNomad.com), living a life many people only dream of living (yes, even in the current ‘situation’) – and unlike most, I travel with ‘essentials’ such as a crystal wine glass, gold fountain pen, and a collection of hats, gloves, etc……
I did not even catch the travel bug until I was in my 30s, and after exploring much of ‘down under’ and parts of New Zealand, I then travelled through quite a bit of Asia, lived approximately 10 years in the USA (spent significant time in 42 states – exploring all extensively by road), several trips to Canada (including the Winter Olympics) and now off exploring amazing places in the UK and Europe, spending a couple of months in one country, then a couple of months in another… I hope to one day meet Mr Right and settle down wherever he may be (and fingers’ crossed he is in Scotland! (or even in England)), but until then, there is plenty of the world to experience!
Essentially I live a version of Elizabeth’s Gilbert’s, “Eat, Pray, Love” – although mine is more ‘wine, pray, love’!
…and I do all this, despite having some reasonably significant physical and mobility challenges, thanks in part to being hit by a car while in Italy a few years ago – and I use a wheelchair from time to time…
…and for those who are interested, my wheelchair is only 13lb – that’s less than most bowling balls! It’s an amazing travel chair that is soooo comfy and whose name is Lancelot (yes, my wheelchair has a name).
Oh, and this photo below was taken at a Steampunk convention in the USA…
