Welcome to our blog all about our experiences moving to – and living in – Budapest, Hungary. We’ve been getting a lot of questions about this move abroad… so here are some answers:
Why did we choose to move from Canada? Well, in very simple terms, we wanted to share the experience of living abroad while we are both still young enough and healthy enough to truly enjoy it. We didn’t want to wait another 20 years until retirement – a lot can happen in that time.
Why did we chose Hungary? We chose Hungary as our destination because I am a dual Canadian-Hungarian citizen. And because my husband is British, we can easily live and work in anywhere in the European Union. In my husband’s case, he can do this before “Brexit” occurs and can remain even afterwards as the spouse of a Hungarian citizen.
Why Budapest? This is the easiest question to answer. We both firmly believe that Budapest is the most beautiful city in Europe. It offers a wide variety of incredible architecture, music, nightlife, food, wine, history, weather and a beautiful landscape that we love.
Our favourite place for a drink beside the Danube.
We are also seeking a simpler, slower life then we had in Canada and we look forward to reconnecting with my Hungarian relatives and family history. While we will continue to work hard, we want to live a life where personal relationships are more important than material possessions. We are looking forward to “starting over again” and trying something new.
What about our families? This is the toughest part. Leaving our family in Canada. But with today’s technology, we know that each and every one of them is only a click, swipe or phone call away. Furthermore, first visits are already scheduled on the calendar. 🙂
Are we taking our dog? Absolutely. Lucy will be making the journey with us from the very first day as we travel via Amsterdam to get to Budapest. For the details on how we did this, please read our post: 5 Tips to Moving to with a Pet.
When do we arrive in Budapest? This first post was written while still in Canada. We arrive in Budapest at the end of November 2017 and are looking forward to the Budapest Christmas Markets.
Do we have somewhere to live? Yes and no. We have secured a fabulous, classical, one-bedroom apartment for short-term rental through HomeAway until the beginning of January. Its right near the Central Market Hall (Nagy Vásárcsarnok) and we are very familiar with the location. Once we arrive, we will look for long-term accommodations using the services of InterRelocation.
Spices for sale in the Budapest Central Market Hall.
Will we eat Kocsonya (ko-choan-yuh)? Absolutely not! (Google it yourselves)
Why is this blog called “44 Letters”? Because there are 44 letters in the Hungarian alphabet. Doesn’t learning Hungarian sound scary and confusing? Well that’s because it is. Much like this move to Budapest!
What can you expect from this blog? Lots of stories, photos and videos about moving abroad, our daily life, our favourite places in Budapest to eat, drink, dance, enjoy and more! We’ll even include stories from our travel experiences throughout Hungary and Europe. We’re not 20, you likely won’t see a photo of me in a bikini – but we are not retired and we are ready for this adventure. This is our Midlife in Budapest.
2 Comments
Hi Anikó, we found your website and it has many good stories about your new life there. I was born on Hungary and live in Toronto area 36 years. Recently retired with my wife and thinking about go back to Hungary. If possible can you please give us some information to my email what documents have to prepare to move back and buy a house. Thanks!
Hi Attila,
If you contact InterRelocation (based here in Budapest), Stuart and his team can give you all the latest information regarding necessary documentation. Buying property is very simple if you are a citizen (or a EU citizen). I came here with my Hungarian passport and got all other documents once I arrived and settled. Good luck!