While travel conventions notoriously exhibit and promote a lot of physical and cultural stereotypes we know (i.e, French men in berets and stripes, though I didn’t see any of those), it was still fun to walk from booth to booth, meeting and interacting with people whose countries and cultures I’ve long admired and would love to explore.

Here are just a few portraits I took while roaming around the massive space and experience that was ITB Berlin.

Left to right: Qatar Airway’s Attendant, Katharina of Hochschwarzwald Tourism, Concierge Joel and friend of the Waldorf Astoria.

Left to right: Gulnur, artist Aigul Zhanserikova, and a model – all from Kazakhstan. A place I’ve always wanted to go.

Left to right: Representatives from Burundi. I want to say his name was Oliver but sadly can’t remember. The gentleman at the Nigerian booth, and more models from Burundi. I think Burundi won best exhibitor display too so congrats! Your booth was definitely memorable.

Left to right: Eritrea in the house! My fellow Nigerian with the beautiful red beads was exhausted (I didn’t blame her), and another lady from the Eritrean booth.

And of course, the delegation from Nigeria. I frankly didn’t want to leave the booth all day and they noticed.

Up next -> Focus on Kazakhstan and Nigeria, and Luxury at the Waldorf Astoria.