Some Random Popular Posts
River Danube Cruise to Slovakia for UNICEF
Cruising on the River Danube from Vienna to Slovakia, making new friends, and all in aid of a good cause – what a wonderful way to invest one’s day! After leaving home and walking across the road to grab a taxi (and spotting yet another beautiful door!)… …I arrive at… Read more
Who needs the Blue Lagoon?
Yes, the Blue Lagoon may be a natural wonder, but it also comes with astronomical entry fees and gazillions of people… So, who needs the Blue Lagoon when one has one’s own private geothermal hot tub?! It was like entering another world… Magical! This place (Hotel Viking) is not only… Read more
Langtry Manor
Staying in the Prince of Wales’ own suite! Have you heard of Lillie Langtry? Perhaps if I said she was in a relationship with the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII and who built Langtry Manor for her – or perhaps if I told you she was the… Read more
Buckingham Palace Royal Mews
The current Royal Mews was built in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 1825. The name ‘Mews’ comes from the royal hawks that were originally kept at the King’s Mews. The word ‘mew’ means moulting, and the birds were kept in a ‘mews’ as they weren’t used for hunting whilst… Read more
La Bella Vista Restaurant in St Leonard’s On Sea, East Sussex
La Bella Vista Restaurant overlooking the English Channel in St Leonards On Sea has become my home/office away from home. I will add information and commentary later – wanted to at least upload the photos now… Read more
Historic Lighthouses, Unicorn Swans, Fighting Bulls, Happy Buses, and more…
All in a day’s adventure in Iceland! After passing the vintage fire truck, we had a day filled with: rustic cattle yards murals Icelandic horses historic church dead boat dead farm equipment historic stone foundations of an old homestead more Icelandic horses more murals sculpture dead boating and fishing equipment… Read more
Steam Train Travel Through Devon
Glorious Steam Train Travel! Being a lover of the Victorian era, it is not surprising that I adore steam trains… Yesterday, I went via regular train from Torquay to the next stop being Paignton where I boarded the Dartmouth Railroad’s “Braveheart” steam train, bound for Kingswear, then across by ferry… Read more
Brighton, East Sussex
Glorious Brighton in East Sussex. Photos now and full details to come… Read more
Windsor Castle
After a long drive in Lady Penelope (my beloved baby Jaguar), I reached my destination – a lovely hotel literally across the road from Windsor Castle. Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II was in residence at the Castle (attending events such as Royal Ascot, Order of the Garter ceremony…) …and now… 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…
