Some Random Popular Posts
Milton Keynes Museum 1940s weekend
What a lovely way to spend a couple of hours… A wonderful group of volunteers works tirelessly all year to pull together this annual event, honouring and celebrating those who fought in and lived through WWII, and ‘kept the home fires burning’… ~ Bella Read more
Transfăgărășan Birthday – 3 of 4
My friend Florin knew of an amzing place for lunch… Where? Right next to the road, perched on the edge of the cliff! Lunch at the edge of the world… Yes, if you look to the left, and it looks like a looooooong way down – it is!!! Bâlea… Read more
Torquay and surrounds
Just thought I would show you some of the beautiful harbour area around Torquay… ~ Bella Read more
Prague Trip (post 3 of 7): Alchemy
It seems in order to even drive past the US embassy, one needs to be searched… That is all well and good, until one cannot find the lever to open the hood…………. oh dear… Some time later… they finally let us go (although they never did get to look under… Read more
World’s Oldest Freehouse
Here in England – and probably other parts of Europe as well – there seems to be quite the battle of who is the oldest this or that… We decided to go for a drive and find what is reported to be the oldest freehouse (pub that is not connected… Read more
Ostia Update #2
It is another glorious day (Monday) here in Lido di Ostia! It is a little overcast, but the sun is shining, it is around 20oC and barely a breeze… By the way, here is a map giving you an idea of where Ostia is in (the blue dot) relation to… Read more
Museo di Palazzo Vecchio
The stunning Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. It looks out onto the Piazza della Signoria (I cover that in a separate post). For me, the most impressive part of the building (goodness, there are SOOO many impressive features!) is The Salone dei Cinquecento (‘Hall of the… 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
Hafnarfjörður – home of Vikings, Elves, Dwarves and other Mystical Beings
Home sweet home for the next couple of months is a what amounts to a delightful Viking hunting lodge, right at the harbour. Hafnarfjördur is famous for having one of Iceland’s largest settlements of elves, dwarves and other mystical beings, which (translating from the Icelandic) are collectively called ‘Hidden Folk.’… 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…
