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…

…and here is just a snippet of what you will find in these pages… 

I rode in a husky sled in the Scottish Highlands; spent time down in a Romanian salt mine; cruised Loch Ness on the Winter Solstice; travelled overnight by rail from Vienna to Rome; chatted with Daisy Godwin (writer of the ‘Victoria’ television series); explored Vienna in a horse-drawn carriage; attended the Winter Olympics in Whistler; cruised the River Danube; and visited the town that may just have the longest place name in the world – Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch…

I practiced what little Italian I speak in little local markets full of cheeses, and all the sights and smells of a glorious Italian market town; traversed the extraordinary Transfăgărășan Road; visited where Agatha Christie lived and wrote; flew internationally by private plane; rode on one of the world’s oldest surviving Ferris Wheels; visited Cadillac Ranch (the place in the middle of the desert where are buried old Cadillacs standing up); road-tripped around the Amalfi Coast; toured castles in Transylvania; visited the home of outlaw Jesse James; and experienced the decadence of a seaweed bath (if you haven’t done it, I thoroughly recommend it!)…  CLICK TO CONTINUE READING…

Some Random Popular Posts

Royal Russian Summer Ball

Well, this Princess Pixie was off to the ball, and what a lovely night it was…           ~ Bella Read more

My other Scottish Castle…

From their website:  “Ardoe House sits on an estate which was part of a 1,000 acre parcel of land gifted to Arbroath Abbey by Alexander II, King of Scotland way back in in 1244. It has been described and divided throughout the centuries as the sunny half and the shady… Read more

Scotland to Skopje

My final day in beloved Scotland before I head off to my next globe-trotting destination on this amazing world-tour I have created for myself… Then, up ready to leave at 3:00AM to drive to Manchester Airport for my flights from Manchester to Frankfurt to Vienna and finally arriving Skopje, North… Read more

Serbia El Paso? Serbia Road Trip to Zlatibor Region (Post 5 of 9)

Yes! We found “El Paso” Americana in the countryside of Serbia! From El Paso to London?   Read more

Keith and Dufftown Steam Railway 1940s Weekend

  ~ Bella Read more

Prague Trip (post 6 of 7): Lunch with Friends

This was funny…  On the way to Prague, Alexander and I had been discussing quantum physics, vibrational attraction, etc…  In particular, we were discussing how to attract a Bentley (as you do!)… We were at this intersection and Eliska (who does know Prague) suggested we turn left, and Alexander (who… Read more

Magnificent Caru’ cu bere historic restaurant

Heading out from home base, and wandering past such beautiful history… This monastery is a destination to explore on another day… The story of Caru’ cu bere “Caru’ cu bere is definitely a symbol of Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, but the people who started this story came from… Read more

Aviemore Ring Cairn and Stone Circle

  ~ Bella Read more

Fabulous Fishy Fun

Yesterday morning I was up when the sparrows were still in their pajamas…  Now, if you know me at all, you know I am not a morning person – so why the sudden urge to be up before dawn? This was my phone as I walked out the front door… 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

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……

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, 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…

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!