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The sad demise of Grecian Holidays and the glory days of the 80s and 90s brought my affair with Lindos to an end and I went off in search of another Greek paradise on the island of Corfu. Two years later and I then moved to Cyprus still searching for that familiar feeling, where my heart would miss a beat and I would get an all over warm glow even when the sun wasn't shining! With 5,000 arrivals a week and as an Area Manager of 70 staff, I used to reminisce about my early repping days in Rhodes, during the odd spare moment!
I gained valuable experience in the tourist industry with my summers in Greece and Cyprus and my winters in the Swiss Alps, not forgetting a brief stint as Sales and Marketing Manager for holiday parks in North Devon (a summer season without the sun!) . In 1999 I set up the training department for a large specialist tour Operator and had a great time travelling around the Greek islands, Cyprus and Spain training hundreds of new reps and managers.
I had spent 17 years overseas enjoying the warm sunshine and quality of life in Greece and Cyprus and the fresh alpine air and adrenaline rush of ski seasons in Switzerland. I returned to London at the end of 2001 to get a ‘proper job' (other people's definition!); my own property (you must get on the property ladder, says mum!); my own car (Greek island mopeds don't fit with the corporate lifestyle) and a boyfriend (well someone had to give me that loving feeling like Lindos did!)
With technology much improved since I left the UK in 1986, I used the internet for everything on my tick list. I enjoyed another high profile training career with Inghams Travel. Based in London I still travelled and trained hundreds of new reps and managers working in 100 different resorts, in 20 different countries. Every year I would have at least one holiday in Lindos and every time I left I vowed I would find a way to return there permanently. The question was, how... ? when the season doesn't even last half a year.
In 2007 I trained as an NLP Practitioner, Life and Business Coach and it was whilst on a course that I told someone about my dream for a Villa in Rhodes. A place where I could continue training and coaching and inspire others to go after what they wanted. One coaching session later, I knew that the only person standing in the way of my dream was me. Within a matter of weeks I had found my dream villa, signed the papers and set up my new company offering inspirational Training, Coaching, Well Being Breaks and Corporate Events. I called my villa and company, Allazo, which is the Greek word for change and was inspired by my own life changing experience.
Moving here permanently in 2008, the magic of Lindos provided more inspirational moments (there must be something in the water or wine perhaps?!). As the season drew to a close in 2008, the idea for Exclusively Lindos was born. With the support of the Mayor and agent for Pallas Travel, the local businesses and the locals of Lindos, we are looking forward to sharing our love and knowledge of this beautiful village.
For those of you who have been before, we look forward to welcoming you back. For those of you planning to visit for the first time, we know it won't be your last. |
