Ms (Leigh) Bella St John aka Luxurious Nomad ~ https://ElegantisVitae.com/
I left a few things behind on my last visit, so made a quick trip back to collect them… some views of the area near Edinburgh on the river, and the iconic Firth of Forth Bridge (that’s the red one)…
Another ‘tough’ flight…
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Next stop was dinner with a new friend here… delicious food, wonderful service, and stunning views…
…and bonus – no steps!!! (although I wanted to explore more of the fortress and that, of course, came with steps and no handrails – but for something this old, that is to be expected).
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Hotel Leopold I is an elegant hotel at the fortress in Novi Sad that was built primarily during the 1700s.
I waited in the lobby for a friend before we had dinner and then went to the theatre. This is one of the few remaining truly stunning historic hotels in Novi Sad.
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In the centre of Novi Sad is an old decommisioned tram-car that has been turned into a cafe – although unfortunately yet again soooo many people smoking inside, and high steps with no handrails, meant that I had to sit outside… but it was a lovely day so all was well…
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I was early for a meeting with my lawyer re my residency and business permits here, so decided to have lunch at Macchiato Kuca – a beautiful place that has both restaurant and 4-star accommodation.
Well, that was the plan…
Unfortunately, like the rest of Serbia, most places have large steps – and many do not have hand rails – so due to my mobility challenges, I was unable to enter the restaurant – but it looks pretty online – and here are a few photos at least taken from the smoking area (soooooooooo many Serbians smoke like chimneys) – oh, and although they, like other restaurants, have a ‘smoking area’, people still smoke in the restaurants and cafes everywhere here.
Oh, and speaking of stairs etc – the place where I had to go to collect my residence permit… I needed to walk up five storeys – elevators are a rarity here, although since my apartment is on the 17th floor, thankfully my apartment building has two of them.
Btw, it looks old, but was only built in 1995.
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Novi Sad in Serbia has a motto: “Don’t try to understand. Feel.” That is a very appropriate motto because there is simply no understanding this completely illogical and often frustrating yet lovely place… (Serbia, that is – not just Novi Sad).
…but… for better or worse, this is now (for the time being) – ‘home’.
After living out of (many, many, many) suitcases for the past seven years, I decided to at least have a ‘home base’, and for a lot of reasons, that is currently Serbia!
In another post I may share more information on why, but one of the reason was that Serbia has one of the lowest income taxes in the world. Anyway, that’s all for another time.
I have not posted anything for literally months and months, so in these posts, I am basically just going to bring you up to date on where I’ve been (not many places) and what I’ve done (not much) since moving here – let’s just say that this has been the most ‘interesting’ (read into that what you will) relocation I’ve ever done…
So the following few posts to bring you up to date will be mostly photos with just a little information for context.
Anyway, here goes…
Farewell UK, hello Serbia!
Who says airline food is dreadful..?
It was amazing to see this article in the in-flight magazine. Here I was, moving to a new I’ve never before even visited – and to a city I didn’t even know existed before I started this relocation journey – and here it was featured in the magazine.
While it sounds idyllic, one of the 200+ year old trees was felled just before I arrived to make way for some new high-rise building.
While there were some local individuals who objected, in general, from what I have experienced, Serbians on the whole do not care about history – nor nature. The amount of rubbish scattered all over the place when I have been exploring away from the city is disgusting. The scenery is beautiful – the trash everywhere, not so much. Anyway…
I stayed the first couple of nights in a hotel until I could collect the keys for my apartment…
I finally picked up the keys to my beautiful apartment – below are views from each of the three different perspectives from the balconies of my apartment…
This is the Danube River at my doorstep…
My first home-cooked meal in aaaaages… (tomato, chicken, baby spinach, garlic, onion – yum)
There are a lot of Danube River cruises that pass by – and the Novi Sad dock is also visible below and to the right of my apartment…
This was the moon – it was soooooooo bright!
Welcome to parking in Serbia…
There’s always something interesting happening on the river – in this case, me thinks he was lost? (and stranded there for about a week!)
So, welcome to Serbia..!
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 anachronistic. Yet, there lies an unparalleled charm in travelling alone, a journey that is as much about the world outside as it is about the world within. The joys of solo travel are manifold, each trip becoming a personal narrative of adventure, introspection, and growth.
1. Unbridled Freedom: Travelling alone means setting your own pace. There’s no need to compromise on destinations or activities. Want to spend an entire day at a museum or linger at a café, watching the world go by? There’s no one to rush you. You become the sole author of your travel story, making spontaneous decisions without the need for consensus.
2. Self-Reflection: Solo travel provides a unique opportunity for introspection. Away from the familiar, with only your thoughts for company, you can dive deep into self-reflection. It’s a chance to understand your desires, confront your fears, and rediscover yourself. Every trip becomes a journey of personal growth.
3. Building Resilience: Travelling alone is not without its challenges (especially in my case when one has mobility challenges). From navigating foreign public transportation to overcoming language barriers, you’ll face situations that test your patience and resourcefulness. Yet, with each challenge overcome, you’ll find yourself becoming more resilient and adaptable.
4. Richer Interactions: When you travel with others, your interactions are often limited to your travel companions. Travelling alone, you become more approachable. Locals and fellow travellers are more likely to strike up a conversation, leading to richer cultural exchanges and unexpected friendships. (I actually, among my closest friends are people I met while travelling alone)
5. Increased Mindfulness: Travelling solo, you become more attuned to your surroundings. Every sight, sound, and scent is amplified. Whether it’s the rustling of leaves, the distant hum of a market, or the intricate patterns of architecture, you’ll find yourself observing and appreciating nuances that might be missed in company.
6. Empowerment: There’s an undeniable sense of achievement in successfully planning and executing a solo trip. From booking accommodations to making on-the-spot decisions, every aspect of the journey reinforces your sense of independence. You gain a new-found confidence in your abilities.
7. Flexibility: Without a fixed itinerary or the preferences of travel companions to consider, you can be truly flexible. If a place resonates with you, stay longer. If another doesn’t, move on. This flexibility allows you to truly immerse yourself in places and experiences that captivate you.
8. Personal Growth: Each solo trip pushes you out of your comfort zone, challenging your perceptions and biases. You return with a broader perspective, having learned not just about different cultures, but also about your own strengths and weaknesses.
If we choose to see it as such, travelling alone is a celebration of one’s own company. It’s an invitation to connect deeply with the world and oneself. While the idea might seem daunting to some, the rewards of solo travel are profound. It’s a transformative experience, one that leaves you with cherished memories and invaluable life lessons. So, the next time you think of taking a trip, consider going it alone. It might just be the journey you’ve been waiting for.
~ Bella
In this digital age, the life of a digital nomad is not one that treads the Silk Road but rather the silky strands of the internet. Their journeys, while not through deserts, are no less adventurous as they traverse time zones and cultures, all the while keeping their work (and Instagram stories) up to date.
Imagine the joy of waking up to the chirping of tropical birds one day and the next, to the soft hum of a European café. One’s office could be the sun-kissed beaches of Bali or a cosy nook in Prague. Every horizon offers a new perspective, not just in scenery but in the very way one approaches life and work.
The daily grind? It’s no longer 9-to-5 but whenever inspiration strikes. And let’s not forget the delightful potpourri of cuisines, from spicy Thai curries to rich Italian pastas, all within arm’s reach.
But, just like anything else in life, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. Reliable Wi-Fi is the digital nomad’s lifeline, and the search for it can sometimes rival Indiana Jones’ quest for the Holy Grail. And then there’s the art of packing; a challenge to fit one’s life into a suitcase, deciding which beloved item stays and which goes (or in my case, everything goes – and I just buy more suitcases!)
Yet, these are but small prices to pay for the boundless freedom, both physical and metaphorical, that being a digital nomad affords.
In this ever-connected world, successful digital nomads have found the perfect balance between work and wanderlust.
~ Bella
I checked something else of my bucket list! The incredible Rudston Monolith.
The Rudston Monolith is situated in the churchyard of the village of Rudston in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
The Rudston Monolith is the tallest megalith (standing stone) in the United Kingdom, standing at over 25 feet (7.6 meters) in height. This impressive prehistoric standing stone is nearly 8 meters tall, almost 2 meters wide, and around a meter thick – and investigation has shown that it extends a long way underground as well. The stone’s estimated weight is about 40 tonnes.
It was erected around 2000BC, and was brought to the site from Whitby – over an hour’s drive even today!
I will write more about the monolith later, but at least wanted to get this post up.
Oh, and the rusty gates? I just saw them along the way and thought they were beautiful…
~ Bella
For many reasons, my evening at the Bell Hotel in Driffield was one I will remember for a very long time. If I could, I would have stayed and probably never left…
This beautiful coaching inn feels like one is stepping into another time and place – a time when things make sense, when the world seems somehow lovelier and sweeter…
~ Bella
