Some Random Popular Posts
Farewell Romania, hello Scotland!
The airport at Bucharest, Romania is very modern, light, bright… …and my new home sweet home – a lovely little fishing village in Scotland. Even the hairdressing salon here is a local ‘drop in and have a chat and a cuppa’ place… …for fluffies as well… We had some… Read more
Bullers of Buchan
The Bullers of Buchan is about 6 miles south of Peterhead where I have been staying, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The collapsed sea cave forms a circular chasm known as “the pot,” that plunges about 30 meters deep and is adorned with a natural archway through which the sea rushes in.… Read more
Pinocchio’s Oak of the Witches
Off waaaaaaaay into the Italian countryside in search of a tree? But not just any tree… On the 7th of March, the 600-year old oak tree known as the “Quercia di Pinocchio” and located in the park of Villa Carrara in San Martino in Colle (Capannori, Lucca) became a national… Read more
Donegal Castle and getting deliberately lost…
Although today was – according to the weatherman – going to be party sunny, partly cloudy, some shower and some rain… I decided to brave the elements and go exploring. First stop was Donegal Castle. From Wikipedia: Donegal Castle (Irish: Caisleán Dhún na nGall) is a castle situated in the centre of Donegal Town in County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland.… Read more
Highland Folk Museum
~ Bella Read more
Final day in Lido di Ostia
Well, after a fascinating stay of almost three months here in Italy, today is my last day before I relocate to Romania for a month. …and what a gift – this morning there was a procession on the main street below, complete with flag-throwing! I had only ever seen that… Read more
Private jet from Milan to Glasgow
Arrived at the private airport in Milan… greeted by a person who already knew my name, and porters already unpacking the vehicle as I am welcomed into the building… My pilot came to introduce himself… …and then we were whisked off to the jet, that was already loaded, ready to… Read more
Vintage Rail Trip From Wales to Scotland
Leaving Torquay and driving up to Wales, at one point I was travelling along the freeway and closing behind me was a magnificent piece of automotive elegance – a glorious fluro-yellow Bentley… I watched it in my rear vision mirror come closer and closer in the lane beside me, and… Read more
Serbia Road Trip to Zlatibor Region (Post 4 of 9)
…the journey continues… 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…
