Some Random Popular Posts
How to ACHIEVE What’s On Your Travel Bucket List?
It’s one thing to create a ‘travel bucket list’ but then what? How do you go about managing all the various places on your travel bucket list in such a way when you go off on an adventure, or go on holidays, that you are aware of what’s on your… Read more
Pink Bunny, Vienna Woods, Monasteries, and Boat Cruising Underground
What do pink bunny rabbits, the Vienna Woods, monasteries, and boat trips in underground Nazi airplane factories (yes, you read that correctly!) all have in common? They were all part of just one more day exploring Austria… but let’s start with yesterday afternoon. I heard the unmistakable clip-clop of horses’… Read more
Exploring Tsarevo and Surrounds… 3 of 3
…continued… …and a gelato – just what was needed! A snail house? This was once the Communist leader’s beach retreat area… …and this is Sophia, the rose bush I bought. She now lives on my balcony, we chat each morning when I give her a drink… …and back… Read more
Transfăgărășan Birthday – 2 of 4
…around the bend, and what do we find..? There’s a bear right there! A momma and her two cubs… A few years ago, I did the Transfăgărășan Road with my friend, Adrian, however this was a far as we could get on that trip… Why? On that trip, it… Read more
Houghton House Ruins
Houghton House today is the shell of a 17th-century mansion commanding magnificent views, reputedly the inspiration for the ‘House Beautiful’ in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. It was built around 1615 for Mary, Dowager Countess of Pembroke, in a mixture of Jacobean and Classical styles: the ground floors of two Italianate… Read more
What is a Staycation?
Staycations – What are they and why are they sometimes better than a vacation? A staycation is essentially a short period of time – even if it’s simply a weekend – where you either stay home, or you book into a hotel somewhere near where you live. Many families prefer a staycation… Read more
What on Earth is a “Match”?
As a Luxurious Nomad living in the twenty-first century, whose age is in the second-half of its own century, and whose love of the late nineteen and early twentieth centuries leaves her feeling like a woman out of time, it is rather challenging to find a partner. The Season In… Read more
Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace
No sooner did I pick up the keys to my beautiful apartment, I dropped my luggage, repacked, and was off across the country… First stop after an overnight rest-break part-way, was collecting the car I just bought – a black Volvo C70 convertible, with black leather interior and wood trim… Read more
Hallstatt and Salzburg
Welcome to Hallstatt… We didn’t end up wandering through the town, and instead headed off again – since we were bound for Munich and still had many hours to go… Welcome to Salzburg… …and despite having a list of places we did want to go, our driver was quite insistent… 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…
