Some Random Popular Posts
Rainy day day exploring Cornwall
My dear friend Karen came over from Hastings for a long weekend and we are spending it exploring Cornwall. Although today was raining all day long, we had a lovely time! Starting in our lovely hotel – Penmere Manor. Built in 1825, it was originally home to Captain John Bullock of… Read more
1066 Battle of Hastings – 950th Anniversary
I feel ever so honoured to be here in Hastings for the 950th anniversary of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Battle Abbey is magnificent! I will add information and commentary later – wanted to at least upload the photos now… … Read more
Bulgarian Retrospective
It has been a fascinating two months in Bulgaria… I decided to do a retrospective, akin to an exhibition of photos I have played with, made more ethereal, that would capture my thoughts and feelings of the place… oh, and the photo below of the back of the van? That… Read more
Templar Graves, Ancient Standing Stones – Christmas in Scotland!
Just before lockdown started in Scotland (again), I went for a drive to Kilmartin. I have been here before, but wanted to spend additional time looking at the Templar graves and ancient standing stones in the area. Driving through the lovely village of Arrochar on Loch Long… …to a diversion… Read more
Inverary and St Conan’s Kirk, Scotland
Friends from several countries flew in for my belated birthday celebration. In addition to being one of my dearest friends, Tom and I work on several projects together so he flew in early from the States before being joined by his wife, daughter and son-in-law a few days later. I… Read more
Anti-Mafia Rally On My Street
Sitting out on my balcony, working on Bridgit’s next book and I hear a commotion down on street level, getting louder and louder, closer and closer… So, I grabbed my camera and looked down to see what was happening… It was an anti-mafia rally! Turns out (after being then curious enough… Read more
Goodbye Serbia, Hello English Riveria!
After a rather ‘interesting’ arrival experience at Heathrow (let’s just say, I felt like I had arrived in an entirely different country, with a different language, and different culture – certainly not England… oh, well…), I then spent two nights at the the stunning Manor Elstree. The Manor (formerly known… Read more
Transalpina – “the country beyond the mountains” – post 1 of 2
My dear friend, Max, and I set out on Sunday morning for what ended up being over 13 hour road trip from Bucharest, and along the Transalpina Road… …passing the largest chemical factory in Romania… There is something about wells that I find so beautiful… This is a traditional Romanina… Read more
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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…
