Some Random Popular Posts
Highland Folk Museum
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Farewell Scotland…
For weeks, this is what it has looked like in my lovely Scotland holiday home… as I pack up to leave on the next stage of my travels… I managed to get in a final few hours in the hot tub, breathing in the scenery, thanking the tree for its… Read more
The Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World – Cărturești Carusel
This particular day I was on a mission… to find what is reputed to be the most beautiful bookstore in the world… and on the way, past some of the most beautiful scenery and buildings… …and here it is! Cărturești Carusel Bookstore… Built in 1903 by a wealthy family of… Read more
Historic Helmshore Textile Mill
Best laid plans… I was supposed to essentially land in Liverpool, collect my car from storage, and then catch the boat over to the Isle of Man – only the boat broke… So, I decided to do some exploring… Helmshore Mills is essentially two mills built in Helmshore, Lancashire. Higher Mill was built… Read more
Devon Road Trip
What a FABULOUS day!!! Road trip from Torquay through Paignton, Chirston, Kingsweir, Dartmouth, Slaptop, Stokeham, Chillington, Charleton, Frogmore and Salcombe. Read more
I Lost Blood Wine Playing Italian Frogger
…and no, there are no typos in the heading… LOL! Back in the 1980s, did you ever play the arcade game, Frogger? You know, the one where you had to get a frog to successfully cross a highway without being squished by the traffic zooming along… Well, here in Italy,… Read more
Neither hail nor sleet, but with hot springs, and shipwrecks!
According to the weather man, it was supposed to be fine and partly sunny, partly cloudy… So, Harry Hyundai set off on a short adventure… only to be caught within about 30 minutes of our departure in the first of two hail storms! But, weather cleared… and the landscape was… Read more
Thurso to John O’Groats
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Historic Hotel Casa Capșa
Magical lightshow on the ceiling of my suite: For one of the poorest countries in Europe, Romania does ok… btw, the Ferrari dealership here apparently sells more Ferraris than any other in Europe… (view from my lovely suite) 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…
