Some Random Popular Posts
Banff and Macduff
~ Bella Read more
Michelangelo Piazza
Michelangelo Piazza – the location for all those amazing vistas of Florence that have become so famous. The Piazza is a fairly recent addition to Florence, being designed in 1869 by architect, Giuseppe Poggi. This wall is (I think) Torre del Belvedere. There are three statues of David in… Read more
Munich’s Rathaus-Glockenspiel
I still find it amusing that council buildings / town halls are called ‘rathuas’ in German… Anyway, this is quite a famous rathaus due to its glockenspiel… ~ Bella Read more
Driving Holiday Along the Amalfi Coast in Italy
What an absolutely fabulous five days we had driving from Lido di Ostia down to Amalfi and Ravello, back up through Positano and Sorrento… (more items now checked off my Bucket List! http://luxuriousnomad.com/bucket-list/) Our first stop after having picked up a rental car and leaving Ostia was Terracina, an ancient Roman ‘colonia… Read more
Hvalnes Lighthouse
This is what you get when you put an engineer together with a house designer in 1954 and ask them to build a lighthouse. The light still operates to this day with two white flashes that are emitted every 20 seconds. Now, time to find some eggs! http://luxuriousnomad.com/in-search-of-eggs-eggin-i-gledivik/ ~… Read more
Goodbye Serbia, Hello English Riveria!
After a rather ‘interesting’ arrival experience at Heathrow (let’s just say, I felt like I had arrived in an entirely different country, with a different language, and different culture – certainly not England… oh, well…), I then spent two nights at the the stunning Manor Elstree. The Manor (formerly known… Read more
Glencoe Massacre and Glen Etive
It was the beginning of February, 1692 and two companies of approximately 120 men from the Campbell Earl of Argyll’s Regiment of Foot who were commanded by Robert Campbell of Glenlyon arrived at the home of the Glencoe MacDonalds, as friends, supposedly seeking shelter due to the fact that the fort… 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
I bought a Victorian Carriage (as one does!)
I have wanted a carriage for many, many years – ok, I have wanted a carriage since I was little! – and now I have one… and not just any carriage… According to the people from whom I bought her, this carriage is one of two or possibly three identical… 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…
