Budapest.fm Interview Transcript
Grant Boyd-Gibbins: Finding Home in Hungary
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Introduction
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
Hi, my name is Grant Boyd-Gibbins. I’m 64 years old. I’ve been living in Hungary for coming up on 30 years, and it’s my home now.
I didn’t realize it was my home until I’d been here for about five or ten years. Then I realized I wasn’t going to leave.
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Ray Brown:
Welcome to Budapest.fm, your gateway to the vibrant stories and hidden gems of Hungary’s capital.
I’m Ray Brown, your host, and I’m thrilled to share the story of a friend of mine, Grant Boyd Gibbons.
Grant has spent nearly three decades in Hungary, and his journey is filled with unexpected turns, profound discoveries, and a deep love for this remarkable city.
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From England to Budapest
Ray Brown:
Grant’s journey begins in England, where he worked in high-end residential development in London. However, the 1987 stock market crash changed everything, pushing him to explore new opportunities that would eventually lead him to Budapest.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
After the stock market crash, that wasn’t really a business you could continue because we had a spike in interest rates to cool inflation.
I got involved with a company that made industrial resins for a few years, and then I came to Budapest to see what the situation was here.
I felt that I’d missed the boat. I thought I should have come after 1989, when the Wall came down and the Soviet Union collapsed.
But in fact, it was really just the beginning, as I soon learned.
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Falling in Love with Budapest
Ray Brown:
Arriving in Budapest, Grant was immediately struck by the city’s beauty, even beneath the rain and soot. He saw enormous potential waiting to be uncovered.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
I remember going out to dinner near the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music. It was raining and dark.
Back then, most of the buildings were covered in soot and grime.
The pools of light from the lampposts reflected in the puddles on the streets, and the darkness of the city struck me as incredibly beautiful.
Being in real estate, I also felt there was tremendous opportunity here.
It was an easy decision to stay and try something different.
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Building a Business
Ray Brown:
Recognizing the need for quality warehouse facilities, Grant launched his first successful venture in Hungary.
It would become the beginning of his long relationship with the country.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
The first project I became involved with was building Western-grade warehouses.
There simply weren’t any.
Western companies wanted to move into Hungary, but they couldn’t find suitable warehouse space.
Warehouses are wonderfully simple buildings. They’re basically just metal boxes.
Building them was easy.
Renting them was even easier.
My first business here was a great success.
It put a smile on my face and convinced me that Hungary was a great place to invest my time.
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Finding Love
Ray Brown:
One of Grant’s most successful developments was the restoration of a 1910 textile factory into modern office space.
The project also led to the most important relationship of his life.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
An American investor joined me on the project.
He used the same law firm everywhere he invested, and they were assigned to conduct due diligence on me and my business.
The lawyer responsible for that due diligence has now been my wife for more than twenty years.
The fact that she’s beautiful, a wonderful mother, and a great cook has really been the icing on the cake.
She’s also helped tremendously with many of the legal challenges involved in real estate.
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Language and Life in Hungary
Ray Brown:
Although Hungarian is known as one of the world’s most challenging languages, Grant never allowed that to stand in his way.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
You know, I barely speak Hungarian.
I speak what I jokingly call “family Hungarian.”
I’ve never found that to be an obstacle to doing business or living here.
I certainly wouldn’t tell anyone to avoid Hungary because of the language.
Most of the people you need to deal with speak English.
And if they don’t, there’s usually someone nearby who does.
For me, it’s really a non-issue.
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What Makes Hungary Special
Ray Brown:
For Grant, the rewards of living in Hungary go far beyond business.
They include friendships, outstanding food, a comfortable lifestyle, and a welcoming pace of life.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
I love the climate.
I much prefer it to the English climate.
And the food…
For anyone considering coming here, the food alone is a pretty good reason to give Hungary a try.
Another thing that’s hard not to love about Budapest is the combination of a relatively low cost of living and a very high quality of life.
There aren’t many places in the world where you get both.
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Exploring Beyond Hungary
Ray Brown:
Grant’s travels have taken him well beyond Budapest, allowing him to discover some of Central Europe’s most beautiful destinations.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
In Slovenia, there’s an area called the Soča Valley that’s absolutely beautiful.
It’s on the far western side of Slovenia near the Italian border, and it’s definitely worth exploring.
The hinterland of Istria, in northern Croatia, is another wonderful place to visit.
And for people who enjoy sailing, the Adriatic Sea is outstanding.
There are around 700 islands, it’s generally not too windy, and the tides are minimal.
Compared to the Greek islands, which can sometimes be a little too windy, I think the Adriatic is close to ideal.
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Unforgettable Memories
Ray Brown:
Some of Grant’s greatest memories in Hungary include solar eclipses, horseback rides through the snow, and unforgettable festivals.
One memory stands above the rest.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
The total solar eclipse in 1999 was incredible.
Hungary was in the path of totality, although Budapest wasn’t.
A wonderful man who organized the Mór wine weekends chartered a boat to travel down the Danube into the path of the eclipse.
As we drifted along the river, the birds suddenly stopped singing.
For a few magical minutes, we simply watched.
Then the sun slowly reappeared from behind the moon, and the birds immediately started singing again.
It remains one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life.
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Advice for Newcomers
Ray Brown:
For anyone thinking about moving to Budapest, Grant offers advice shaped by nearly thirty years of experience.
Grant Boyd-Gibbins:
Rent before you buy.
Give yourself time to really get to know the city.
Budapest is full of fascinating neighborhoods, each with its own character.
And walk everywhere.
That’s how you discover the hidden streets, the quiet corners, and the places that make this city truly special.
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Closing
Ray Brown:
Grant Boyd-Gibbins’ story is a testament to the rewards of embracing opportunity, adapting to new cultures, and finding home where you least expect it.
His journey through Hungary is one of resilience, curiosity, love, and discovery.
Thank you for joining me on Budapest.fm.
Until next time, keep exploring, keep discovering, and keep finding the beauty in every journey.
