Some Random Popular Posts
Creating Your Travel Bucket List
Do you have a travel bucket list? Creating your travel bucket list should be fun. It is what should inspire you to lead a more exciting and fulfilling life. But, sometimes, it can be difficult and overwhelming creating one. You have so much to see and experience in the world and… Read more
My Viking Un-Birthday
My birthday was on September 13th, but as I was curled up painting and generally unplugged from the world, the first time I went down to the restaurant for dinner after my birthday was a couple of days later… and little did I know I would get gifts, a cake… Read more
Farewell Italy, Hello Romania!
Yesterday I left Italy and headed to Romania for the next stop on my “Freedom Life” tour… (oh, and it was a good thing I flew yesterday as today, Romanian air traffic controllers decided to go on strike to demand better working conditions). Sitting at Ciampino Airport, it was interesting to… Read more
Senior Christmas in Torquay
The hotel in which I was staying for the first month here was the venue for a beautiful sight… A seniors’ group were having their Christmas party, including a visit from Santa Claus! – but this was weeks before Christmas..? I was speaking with one of the ladies and she… Read more
Vienna to Venice via the Weltmachine (World Machine)
Our adventure started before we even left the rental car place… I couldn’t find where to release the parking brake on this push-button Mercedes! 🙂 Leaving the rental yard, and having the obligatory “gute fahte” message… We were on our way from Vienna to Italy… Our first adventure was to… Read more
Florence Loop – Post 2 of 3
…continuing my loop of the city of Florence… Read more
Pink Bunny, Vienna Woods, Monasteries, and Boat Cruising Underground
What do pink bunny rabbits, the Vienna Woods, monasteries, and boat trips in underground Nazi airplane factories (yes, you read that correctly!) all have in common? They were all part of just one more day exploring Austria… but let’s start with yesterday afternoon. I heard the unmistakable clip-clop of horses’… Read more
Sinaia-Busteni-Predeal-Brasov Road Trip – 2 of 9
…continuing on… I find the architecture of old Romanian buildings to be truly glorious… In some places run down, in others cared-for, but always so beautiful… …and so we continue… Read more
Heavier Mountain
One often finds strange things along the way… …like striped rocks… …and coloured lumps of concrete with old monitors on them! ~ Bella Read more
Most Recent Posts
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’.
I largely retired at age 50 when I decided to leave America (where I had been living for the past ten years) and for a decade travelled the world fulltime as a Luxurious Nomad (http://LuxuriousNomad.com), living a life many people only dream of living – 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, England, or Europe), 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…
