Some Random Popular Posts
In search of eggs! Eggin í Gleðivík
34 huge granite eggs represent the eggs of each of the nesting birds in this area, many of which are migrating birds, flying over to Iceland from far away to lay their eggs in Iceland. Each one of the 34 eggs is an exact replica of the egg… Read more
Boddham Harbour & Buchan Ness Lighthouse
Scotland’s Boddham harbour was built in 1831 and became a registered port in 1845. The village’s lighthouse, Buchan Ness Lighthouse was built-in 1827 by Robert Stevenson and stands 130 feet high. ~ Bella Read more
Road trip: Romania to Austria via Hungary
Time to depart… Poor Bethany – at one point there was a luggage avalanche, but we saved her just in time… 🙂 My Romanian friend and driver, Adrian. We were travelling through the Carpathian Mountains and then Transylvania on what was originally a road built by the Romans… This fort… Read more
Royal Enclosure at Royal Ascot
Another item checked off my rather extensive bucket list – attending Royal Ascot, in the Royal Enclosure nonetheless, thanks to an invitation from my dear friend, Noreen. It was a glorious day, but I will let the photos tell the story… ~ Bella Read more
A Cocktail of Cultures and Language
I am writing this while sitting at a Chinese/Thai restaurant near home here in Lido di Ostia. When I awoke this morning after my huuuuuuge day yesterday exploring Rome, I was ravenously hungry and decided, rather than face the massssses of people at the various markets (that are delightfully all… Read more
Sleeping Beauty – Torquay Pavilion
The Forgotten Torquay Pavilion Sleeping peacefully on the shore in Torquay, Devon in the United Kingdom is a once magnificent building – the Torquay Pavilion. Although it has been closed since 2015, this Sleeping Beauty has thus far had a very checkered life, first as a theatre, then an ice-skating rink, amusement… Read more
Horse-Drawn Canal Journey
Starting out from my home in Torquay, my friend Karen (who had come over from Hastings to help celebrate my birthday) and I headed north to Tiverton to check off yet another item on my bucket list – a journey on one of England’s last horse-drawn canal boats. …these archways… Read more
Home sweet home on Loch Long…
Here is a peek into what life is like living on a loch – this one in particular is part of the Loch Lomond National Park. …and by the way, there are over 30,000 lochs in Scotland! Friends boating by and coming in for a drink… Barbeques and time to… Read more
Window seat view of noisy-peaceful protest…
I love my hotel suite, not only because it is in such an historic hotel and is quite simply lovely, but because I have a window seat out onto the world… and in this case, the world was a peaceful but very noisy protest… …and with that, it… 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’.
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…
