A couple who won Euromillions have visited 65 countries in the nine years since their bumper win – but say nothing beats Wales. Civil partners Ian Pearce, 55, and Lyn Sexton, 51, have enjoyed a jetset lifestyle of international breaks since their lucky break in 2013 and have already taken in four countries so far this year.
The globetrotting pair, from Merthyr Tydfil, have ticked off their bucket lists but have no plans to stop their adventures after clocking up almost a million air miles. They have just got back from three weeks in Mexico and have already visited Zanzibar, Morocco and Senegal this year. And they told the Mirror they are already planning their next trip – though nothing is better than life at home in Wales.
Ian said: “I love to travel to the Far East but Lyn likes the Caribbean so we take it in turns. We have been very lucky – winning the lottery opened up the world to us.” The pair used to escape to their caravan on the west Wales coast before winning £1m on the Euromillions raffle in 2013. At the time they said: “The money is not going to change us – we are still going to live in Merthyr, shop in the same shops, and do the same things.”
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But after leaving their jobs they bought a £600,000 smallholding in New Quay, Ceredigion, which acts as their base when they are not globetrotting. So far the couple have visited Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, China, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, The Maldives, Kenya, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, America, Canada, and lots of counties across Europe.
Ian said: “I’ve done my bucket list and for me the highlight was the Taj Mahal in India. We’ve taken family and friends with us – we have lots of great memories to look back on.” .
Lyn, who was a physiotherapy technician when they won, said: “Wherever we go in the world we come back and say that you can’t beat Wales. We go to places that have great beaches, or mountain ranges, or amazing scenery but Wales has got the lot.”
A Camelot spokeswoman said: “Ian and Lyn are a great couple who know how to enjoy themselves. Their win has taken them to places they could only have dreamed about before.”
