Some Random Popular Posts
Farewell Romania – Hello England!
Leaving beautiful Romania… but going to equally beautiful England… I wasn’t expecting to visit Great Britain again for some time, but restrictions changing made this the best next destination for me… By the way, I have ceased calling the area “the United Kingdom”, as they haven’t felt all that ‘united’… Read more
Skeiðará Bridge Monument
When the Vatnajökull volcano erupted in 1996, the 880-metre-long (2,890 ft) bridge was damaged by icebergs the size of houses that had broken off and floated down and across the plains… Thankfully, no one was killed when the bridge was destroyed… …and this monument is all that remains… Hofskirkja Turf… Read more
Hearts in Akureyri
Quirky as it may be, one of the things I wanted to see were the ‘Hearts in Akureyri’ traffic lights! …and I saw Santa hitchhiking along the way… Btw, I did see a lot of hitchhikers and with only one exception, they were all girls in their twenties. ~ Bella Read more
World’s Oldest Vine at Maribor
Being the vino-lover that I am, I just had to go exploring to find the world’s oldest grape vine! …and this is it! …and yes, it still produces fruit every year. It has been confirmed at 400 years of age, and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as… Read more
Picardy Symbol Stone
According to Historic Environment Scotland, the Picardy Symbol Stone is unusual for two reasons: it’s one of only a few Pictish carved stones standing in its original spot it’s a rare instance of a stone potentially associated with a burial …and even the drive to get there was glorious! The… Read more
Castle of Pittulie
Seemingly stranded in the middle of a large field, stands the ruins of Castle Pittulie in Fraserburgh, Scotland. Castle Pittulie, also known as Pittulie Castle, is an oblong tower house located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, near the village of Rosehearty. The castle is believed to have been built around the… Read more
Vienna’s beautiful Hotel Bristol
Vienna abounds with luxury, elegance, and beauty – and they were all combined in my experience last night at the Hotel Bristol. Opened in 1892, this beautiful hotel was named after the British town of Bristol. The photo above is from their website – I wasn’t able to catch one… 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
Traditional German restaurant
We decided to find a traditional German restaurant – and were delighted to discover “Pil’s Corner”… …and back to the hotel, when I first noticed this delightful notation on the reverse of my room card: ~ Bella 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
Travel Tips
The Joys of Travelling Alone
The Joys of Travelling Alone: A Journey of Self-Discovery I was speaking with someone yesterday who said, “I couldn’t do what you do, and travel the world by myself.” I considered her words overnight, and here is my response. In an increasingly connected world, the idea of solitude might seem… Read more
Solo Travel Tips to Stay Safe and Have Fun!
Many people are amazed when they learn that I journey around the world as a solo traveller – and even more than that, I do not have a family ‘back home’ who know my every whereabouts and activity. I truly am the epitome of a solo traveller! While friends have… Read more
My International Chauffeur Service
Ever wanted an international chauffeur? An international chauffeur company who knows you, who operates all over the world, who is reliable, affordable and who also has ‘an app for that’? I love my international chauffeur service, BlackLane. They do all that and more! …and especially as a woman travelling around… Read more
Luxurious Nomad Luxury Skin Care for Pennies!
I had a most delightful conversation yesterday with a lovely waitress at one of my ‘local watering holes’ where I eat, drink and work. She is a beautiful young woman of twenty-five – and when we were joking about her being a quarter of a century, she was astonished when… 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’.
Thanks to the residual income streams I created from, among other things, licensing my professional development programs, I retired at age 50 when I decided to leave America (where I had been living for the past ten years) and now travel the world fulltime as a Luxurious Nomad (http://LuxuriousNomad.com), living a life many people only dream of living (yes, even in the current ‘situation’) – 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 or England), 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 in late 2016, not long before I left the States…
Digital Nomad Tip
The life of a Digital Nomad
The life of a digital nomad – a modern embodiment of the age-old wanderer, but with a dash of Wi-Fi and a sprinkle of global connectivity. In this digital age, the life of a digital nomad is not one that treads the Silk Road but rather the silky strands of… Read more
