Lobby and Tea is celebrating its first birthday! I went through so many unforgettable moments, learned so many meaningful things about hotels and myself, which I am happy to share with you:

1. Creativity and challenges are everything; discover places no one ever explored.

2. An ex-war zone city might make you feel at peace with yourself and the world and a peaceful city might completely freak you out.

3. Karl Lagerfeld is right: What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce; be quick when taking pictures because you might never be able to capture that particular and unique second again.

4. Every hotel has its own audience and ambiance; nouveau riche hotels, Mafiosi hotels, historic palaces, glamour and fashionable hotels, one-night stand hotels, …

5. Dare to enter the most luxurious palaces for a drink in their sumptuous lobbies. I promise you will quickly understand why I created my blog.

6. Observing a lobby can be a memorable (anthropological) experience and broaden your mind towards different cultures and mindsets.

7. Tea Time will remind you that it is important to find time to stop time just for one moment and indulge yourself in the magnificent atmosphere of an authentic beauty.

8. Waiters and waitresses are among the most interesting and cultivated people you will meet. Take your time to greet, talk and listen to their fascinating stories.

9. Thank people as this gesture might change their universe.

10. There are world-renowned five +++ stars hotels which do not always live up to their reputation and forget to fix the loosened seats of their toilets and supply toilet paper.

11. Always give a second chance to hotel visits; they might have a bad hair day too.

12. Details in hotels are the true beauty of the place and make their world go round!

13. Hotels own sometimes masterpieces which are placed in discreet corners, next to the elevators or… on your way to the toilets!

14. These are the following words used in hotels to indicate toilets: bathroom, cloakroom, closet, comfort room, comfort station, escape room, gents or ladies, latrine, lavatory, loo, powder room, privy, throne, reading room, urinal, washroom, and water closet (W.C.).

15. The nosh, which accompanies your soda or tea, and the toilets will reveal more than you can imagine about the hotel you’re visiting.

16. There are still hotels with such big bedrooms that I mistook them for a hotel lobby!

17. There are hotels rooms which are so small that you will touch the cupboard with one hand, the bed with the other, reach the bathroom with your head and the toilet with your right leg.

18. There are hotels that have no logic and will fill the tiny shower with a chair (on the third floor, no elevator), the mini closet with a huge hairdryer and a humongous informative book about the city aaand put the safety box in such way it will only be reachable after climbing on a sofa and a table.

19. Believe it or not, but anyone can turn into a real tourist wearing an I love Venice red poncho and turquoise plastic boots!

20. It is possible to pack a suitcase in 6 minutes.

21. I had breakfast at 22.35.

22. I clapped my hands to turn on the lights in hotels, jumped from the loo when the flushing mechanism started to function and moved like an acrobatic voodoo magician to make the water flow on my delicate hands.

23. I can dance the Google Maps Samba when trying to figure out what way I must go, and I did lose my way while using Google Maps AND a map!

24. Believe in yourself; where there’s a will, there’s a way!

25. Creating my blog and exhibiting my photos with Artelli Gallery was an amazing experience as I stood on the other side of the mirror; I got out of my comfort zone and put myself out there.

26. Only listen to constructive criticism, build a shield against negative vibes.

27. I met the most amazing people during my trips and their visions, passions, thoughts, advice  and care were inestimable for me, my blog and pictures! They turned every post into a beautiful Technicolor movie!

I would like to take a moment to thank my amazing family and friends for making my choices, beliefs, wishes, and passions possible as I can truly feel that they believe in me, wish me the best and are passionate about supporting me no matter what! They rock my world!

My dear readers; you can’t imagine how your support, comments and sweet messages have changed my world!

All of you, and you know who you are, I love you sooo much! Please don’t change as you make my universe such an enchanting place to live in! I can’t wait to continue my quest for many sensational and striking lobbies worldwide in your magic company!