Some Random Popular Posts
My ‘Office’ on The River Thames
There are worse places to sit and work for the day than on the dock of an historic hotel, beside the River Thames… Fluffy river companion… (I do miss having a fluffy companion – one of the drawbacks of this amazing lifestyle…) Sitting here, working away – the river provided… Read more
Windsor Castle
After a long drive in Lady Penelope (my beloved baby Jaguar), I reached my destination – a lovely hotel literally across the road from Windsor Castle. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was in residence at the Castle (attending events such as Royal Ascot, Order of the Garter ceremony…) …and now… Read more
Emergency Air-Lift
Never a dull day here loch-side… ~ Bella Read more
My Italian villa on the Riviera del Brenta
Welcome to my home for the next month… I even have my own mini-villa in the grounds of this glorious estate… and I love my morning ritual of opening all the shutters… This is the view from my bathroom… …view from my bedroom… …and view from my front door… This… 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
Stunning Torbay and Surrounds
My ancestry here goes back almost one thousand years and to this day I still think it to be among the most beautiful places on earth… ~ Bella Read more
Si, sono solo!
My day started with sitting outside at one of the local cafes, happily working away as the world meandered by… having a glass of wine… and an Italian fellow probably in his sixties (and very good looking, I might add), wearing jeans and a shirt, asked me if I was… Read more
Christmas in Vienna
A beautiful day here in Vienna so I decided to catch a taxi to the other side of the city centre, go for a wander, and then enjoy a carriage ride for a few hours, meandering through the beautifully decorated streets of Vienna… …BUT, the day turned out to be… Read more
Neuschwanstein Castle (Walt Disney’s castle inspiration) and Alpsee Lake
Heading off on a damp Munich morning, we went in search of the castle that inspired Walt Disney… I wasn’t up to the trek to the top, so Donna went up, and I explored the museum and lake… A parade of Japanese umbrellas… I… 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’.
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…
