Luxurious Redefined

My Vision:  This blog is essentially a way to share memories of some of my travels and adventures.  I am a great believer in living a life of ‘luxury’ and experiencing the ‘finer’ things in life, but that can mean anything from staying in an amazing European castle, to sitting under the stars beside an open fire next to a loch in Scotland.  

We can make anything beautiful if we choose to see it that way…

Some Random Popular Posts

Hello Romania…

Well, I knew it had to come eventually – time to leave beloved Scotland and head off for new adventures…  First a train from Glasgow to London… …and flying out of Heathrow… …and several hours later…  Welcome to Romania! …and in case you are wondering, the tint is from the… Read more

Vienna to Venice via the Weltmachine (World Machine)

Our adventure started before we even left the rental car place…  I couldn’t find where to release the parking brake on this push-button Mercedes!  🙂 Leaving the rental yard, and having the obligatory “gute fahte” message… We were on our way from Vienna to Italy… Our first adventure was to… Read more

Wyre Estuary

A beautiful day out…   Read more

Ostia Update

As I begin this post, it is Monday here in Ostia (after arriving on Saturday and sleeping much of Sunday!). I went for a walk with the intention of getting some lunch, some wine and some groceries.  As the song says, two out of three ain’t bad.  Groceries can wait…  One… Read more

brighton

Brighton, East Sussex

Glorious Brighton in East Sussex.  Photos now and full details to come…                                 Read more

Meandering…

Topless Prince (my trusty convertible) and I went a-meandering today…  No actual destination in mind – just seeing where we ended up…   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

Farewell Romania ~ Hello Ireland!

First, let me say, “I love Romania!” I would go back there at any time – but that’s for another post… Yesterday morning I left beautiful Romania and since my flight was at 07:15, I arrived at the airport at 04:30 – thinking that would be plenty of time… Hmmmmmm……………… Read more

Florence Loop – Post 1 of 3

Welcome to Florence!  To get a general idea of the area, one of the first things I do in a new city is, where available, I take the loop bus – and so that’s what I did today, on yet another glorious days here in Firenze.  Starting in Independence Square,… Read more

Dream Big ~ Travel Well

My Philosophy:  Don’t wait!  Not one of us know how long we, or anyone else, has on this planet.

If you want to travel – do it now.  If you want to have amazing adventures – do them now.

We can always come up with countless excuses why we don’t do things – BUT – when we put that focus onto the flip side of that, it’s amazing how many opportunities emerge.

For instance, as I write this, I am single, almost 60, and I have health and mobility challenges that mean I have to use a wheelchair from time to time – yet I still travel and have amazing experiences and meet fascinating people – all because I choose to.  Correct, I don’t have a family so in that sense have more freedom to do so, but I have a friend who, with next to no money and having just become a single mother of three, decided her children would get a better education if they travelled the world – so she went about finding a way to make that happen: and she did!

Dream big – travel well…

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

Travel Tips

The Joys of Travelling Alone

The Joys of Travelling Alone: A Journey of Self-Discovery I was speaking with someone yesterday who said, “I couldn’t do what you do, and travel the world by myself.”  I considered her words overnight, and here is my response. In an increasingly connected world, the idea of solitude might seem… Read more

solo travel

Solo Travel Tips to Stay Safe and Have Fun!

Many people are amazed when they learn that I journey around the world as a solo traveller – and even more than that, I do not have a family ‘back home’ who know my every whereabouts and activity. I truly am the epitome of a solo traveller! While friends have… Read more

international chauffeur blacklane

My International Chauffeur Service

Ever wanted an international chauffeur? An international chauffeur company who knows you, who operates all over the world, who is reliable, affordable and who also has ‘an app for that’? I love my international chauffeur service, BlackLane.  They do all that and more!  …and especially as a woman travelling around… Read more

luxury-skin-care

Luxurious Nomad Luxury Skin Care for Pennies!

I had a most delightful conversation yesterday with a lovely waitress at one of my ‘local watering holes’ where I eat, drink and work. She is a beautiful young woman of twenty-five – and when we were joking about her being a quarter of a century, she was astonished when… 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……

Ms (Leigh) Bella St John - Luxurious Nomad

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 England), but until then, there is plenty of the world to experience!

Bella St John

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 in late 2016, not long before I left the States…

Ms (Leigh) Bella St John

Join me for a glass of red wine and a fireside chat…

 I’m currently exploring various parts of the UK and Europe, so if you’re nearby, drop me a line!

 

Digital Nomad Tip

the life of a digital nomad

The life of a Digital Nomad

The life of a digital nomad – a modern embodiment of the age-old wanderer, but with a dash of Wi-Fi and a sprinkle of global connectivity. In this digital age, the life of a digital nomad is not one that treads the Silk Road but rather the silky strands of… Read more