Some Random Popular Posts
Lake Jasna and Lake Bled
One day it’s snowing… and the next…. Oh, but first, they couldn’t get my luggage out of the door of the hotel…… …and I had rented a manual estate vehicle, but there was a glitch in their system, so they upgraded me! This is where I’m headed… the mountains of… Read more
Meeting my 4x-great-uncle in London
It was a grey day when I headed off to London… …first class on the direct train from Glasgow to London Euston – a lovely way to travel… Arrived at my beautiful hotel, The Royal Horseguards, and since my suite was so pretty, complete with two balconies nonetheless, I decided… Read more
Oban, Scotland
Prince (my beloved car) and I decided to head out for the day and went in search of Oban… This is not the colleseum, but rather McCaig’s Tower, built in 1897 by local banker John Stuart McCaig, with the aim of providing work for local stonemasons, and being a lasting monument… Read more
A day of exploring with no specific destination in mind…
It was such a lovely day so I decided simply on a direction, with no real destination in mind – other than I had chosen where I wanted to end the day for an early dinner… I find this climbing rose absolutely captivating – and look at the size of… Read more
Prague Trip (post 4 of 7): More Alchemy
…the Klementinum! …only to discover the Klementinum Library that I reeeeeally want to see is up 172 stairs… Some days I could do that, but not today. Oh, well – yet another thing to look forward to on my next trip! But wait… …we were let in to see THIS!!! … Read more
Rudolph Hess recouperated here – Scotland’s Buchanan Castle
Rudolph Hess? Yes! After his flight from the Third Reich to Scotland, Hess was interned in Buchanan Castle which by then had been requisitioned by the army to use as a military hospital. This is what the castle looked like in the 1890s… …and driving toward it, one could for… Read more
Haunted castle, Templar inn, lighthouse, and more!
What a marvellous day’s exploring! Haunted castle, Templar inn, lighthouse, tall ship, medieval ruins… and home early in the afternoon, and in time to do a full day’s/night’s work… I did not feel at all compelled to do the tour – the entire place felt so incredibly sad… From their… Read more
Relaxing around Galway…
After days and days of rain, today’s sunshine was reason enough to get into the car and simply go for a spin… This is Dunguaire Castle… ~ Bella Read more
Budapest to Vienna via Bratislava, Slovakia
Although I forgot to program fine weather into the holodeck for this trip, I had a marvellous time travelling by road from Budapest to Vienna, with a stop-off in Bratislava in Slovakia. While there are no border crossings for passport checking and the like, one does need to have a… 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…
