Some Random Popular Posts
Cromarty and the Cromarty Lighthouse
As I began my road trip around part of Scotland’s NC 500, I started by visiting Cromarty and the Cromarty Lighthouse. The original Cromarty Lighthouse was built in 1828 by engineer Robert Stevenson, who was a member of the famous Stevenson lighthouse engineering family. Read more
Historic Bath and the Roman Baths
Bath is one of the most beautiful of places – and the Roman Baths are extraordinary! I am yet to add the information to this post – but wanted to at least get the photos up… … Read more
Zvonko Bogdan Winery
…and no trip to McDonalds would be complete without a visit to a Serbian winery (we didn’t have time to do the tour, but I love the building!) Read more
Skíðaskálinn í Hveradölum – Walter Mitty Restaurant
After finding the Walter Mitty Bridge, Harry Hyundai, my trusty rental car and I went searching for the restaurant where in the movie the characters did the skateboard swap in the parking lot… Although currently closed thanks to our friendly virus, it was a lovely spot… Right next to the… Read more
Plovdiv, Asen’s Fortress, Bachovo Monastery Road Trip (3 of 4)
Welcome to Restaurant Salasha… and the best food I have had since I arrived in Bulgaria – actully, one of the best meals ever! While we were there, authorities were attempting to quell a fire that was beginning to rage through the mountainside… 22.80 lev = 11.40 € … and… Read more
My Lovely Birthday in Iceland
I am in Iceland at present, and I was in quite the quandary about how to celebrate my birthday weekend this year… Would I: Go to somewhere like the Blue Lagoon? Stay in one of those ice hotels or similar? Go on another road trip? While all those options and… Read more
(Scotland) Peterhead to Rosslyn Chapel to Rudstone (England)
Leaving lovely Peterhead, I drove south to my next stopover – the lovely old coaching inn, the Sun Inn in Dalkeith. The following morning, the plan was to go to Rosslyn Chapel. I have been before, but wanted to spend some more time there… well, that was the plan… Unfortunately,… Read more
London’s Hop On Hop Off Big Bus Tour
Just about every major capital city will have some form of tour bus and London is no exception. I spent several hours sitting on top of a double-decker bus touring through London and below are the photos (I will add additional details later). … Read more
Lovely Majestic Hotel
It’s funny how different brands are represented differently in different countries. In Australia Marriott is a premium brand,whereas in American it is a budget brand. In America, Ramada is very often a budget accommodation, but here in Romania, it is a five star brand. Anyway, I am recovering well (albeit… 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’.
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 even in 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…
