Last month it has already been 3 years since I flew from Switzerland to Scotland with a purpose to find a home here again after we decided to relocate back to the UK. At first, Aberdeen was an automatic choice for me. I lived there for over a decade, have spent most of my grown up life there, started a family. I loved the location and still had close friends there. Thus, I went there first. Caught up with a few friends, enjoyed the lovely chats, the surroundings and had a few property viewings. Unfortunately, none of the properties were suitable for us. Not a great situation to be in, as we were in a rush to find a place to live because our home in Switzerland was already sold and we were meant to relocate back to the UK in a month time.
I had no other options, except that I knew that I would love to live in Scotland again. I had a few more days left in Aberdeen. Then, my friend suggested – “Why don’t you check Edinburgh?”. She liked it and would not mind living there.
I never thought about Edinburgh as a place to live. It was ok. I have been a few times but mostly for hen nights, parties or occasional touristic visits. I never lived in Edinburgh before. I hardly saw the city in daylight for too long. Then I remembered, the last time I visited. It was just a few years before relocation search. I flew there from Switzerland for my friend’s hen weekend. We stayed in a lovely apartment that we shared between a few of us on a Frederick Street, just across from an Irish bar. So many years after and as I write this that’s still the last time I was out in a party in Edinburgh. It was a great night. Interestingly, I more remember the morning after. Walking to the nearest Boots, to get some vitamins. I remember it was September morning. Beautiful city. Fresh air. And, most vividly, I remember a feeling of Freedom.
I listened to the advice of my friend from Aberdeen. Changed my plans for Aberdeen trip, rearranged the flights and went to visit Edinburgh. To get to know it.
It was April time, middle of the working week and luckily the hotels were not too busy. I found an amazing room in a local hotel in Haymarket. I am not going to lie, I can’t remember being in Haymarket before. Or if I was – I could not remember. In fact, I had no clue about Edinburgh locations at all. All I knew – I need to find a place to live for me and my family. In a month time. I have children and we were not lucky with the school systems in some other places we lived. So priority was – find a nice place to live in a great location with great school and nursery, were we can rent for a few months and then we buy a place if we are happy with the area. I did not know where to look. I searched a few property websites. I knew only one person who lived here. My exploration visit was only for 2 days. What can be done in 2 days to find a home when you have no clue where to look and don’t know the areas?
I went on Google. Did a bit of research of the best areas. Selected a few. On day one of the visit, went for a walk – as far as I could go. Of course at that time I realised – it only takes over 30 minutes to cross the city from one end to the next. It was not much. I explored a few areas, some parks. Researched a few schools. It was lovely. Peaceful. The areas I went first – I did not picture us living there, although it was nice there.
On day two of my visit. I selected another area and a different approach. I went on Google maps. Found a food eating place in the area I was interested in. Again, not knowing it. Then, booked a taxi to take me there. I did not plan to eat there. My plan was to walk back and explore it and other locations on my way back to the city. I was very lucky – with a taxi driver. I told him my story. He was very friendly and on the way to my location he gave me a brief tour and a history of each place we were driving by. He was a local here – he knew the places. Thanks to my friend from Aberdeen and the Edinburgh taxi driver – we started living in Edinburgh.
If you want to know Why We Love Living in Edinburgh. Check in here next month.
Have a warm and peaceful May!
Best wishes,
Natalie
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