Some Random Popular Posts
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
Durness to Dunnet Bay
~ Bella Read more
Idrija’s Karst Spring Wild Lake and Free Beach
This detour to find ‘Wild Lake’ was stunning beyond words… This was where I stopped to have lunch… it was sooooooooo peaceful! Magical! ~ Bella Read more
Goodbye Munich – hello Autobahn and more…
Finally, my time comes to leave Munich and I get a car to the airport where I collect my rental… Meet Clio – my companion for the next few days… Dear Clio did her best, but anything over 150 she felt decidedly unstable… I did however manage to get to… Read more
Welcome to Peterhead, Scotland
Exploring the local area… I will do a longer post at another time with the history of the area and a more extensive tour. This was just a quick look around to get my bearings. Called in to a cafe… Then back home sweet home… one moment blue… Read more
Stairs of Reconcilliation, Graz
Leaving the majestic horses, we made our way back to Graz to find the ‘Stairs of Reconciliation’… No matter where you look, there are cyclists everywhere in Graz… The archway on the right is where we are headed… …and through the small door on the left… Completed in 1438 under… Read more
Hello Italy and Lake Como
The first place I stayed was a delightful little family-run hotel near Lake Como. The next morning, continuing my drive across from Milan to Venice, I drove around lovely Lake Como… complete with skinny, windy roads and crazy Italian drivers! Oh, and this was the bus going the other way… Read more
Pisa’s Leaning Tower
Off to see if Pisa’s Tower is still leaning… ~ Bella Read more
Appalachian Resort
The Appalachian Resort up in the mountains of New Jersey has been my ‘home sweet home’ for several months. Only about two hour’s drive (actually, a little less) from New York City, about two and a half hours from Philadelphia, and with two hot tubs, a heated pool, gym, cafe, bar, games… 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…
