Quixoticguide

Hi, I’m Maarten Van Den Driessche, a curious human, aviation enthusiast, vexillophile, world traveler, and food lover with over 14,000 days of life experience.

  • Exploring the Provinces of Turkey

    Turkey is divided into 81 provinces (iller), stretching across two continents and offering an incredible variety of landscapes, cultures, and histories. From the beaches of the Mediterranean to the mountains of Eastern Anatolia, each province has its own unique character. Why Turkey’s Provinces Are So Diverse Turkey’s provinces span seven geographical regions: Provinces Every Traveler…

  • Beyond the Headlines: Why You Should Visit Iraq

    For many people, Iraq is a country they know only from news reports and history books. Yet beyond the headlines lies one of the world’s most fascinating travel destinations, a place where ancient civilizations were born, cultures flourished, and hospitality remains a way of life. Traveling through Iraq is like stepping into the pages of…

  • Southern Lights vs. Northern Lights: What’s the Difference?

    The aurora is one of nature’s most spectacular displays, lighting up the night sky with curtains of green, purple, pink, and red. While the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are famous worldwide, their southern counterpart, the Southern Lights (Aurora Australis), remains a hidden gem for many travelers. Both phenomena are created when charged particles from the…

  • Xiamen Travel Guide: China’s Coastal Gem and Future Aviation Capital

    Located on China’s southeast coast in Fujian Province, Xiamen is one of the country’s most attractive and livable cities. Known for its seaside setting, colonial architecture, subtropical climate, and relaxed atmosphere, Xiamen offers a different side of China compared to the bustling megacities of Beijing and Shanghai. Why Visit Xiamen? Xiamen combines modern urban development…

  • Divided Islands: One Island, Two Worlds

    Most islands are governed by a single country, but a handful of fascinating exceptions are divided between two or more nations. These islands offer a unique glimpse into history, politics, culture, and geography, where international borders cut across landscapes that might otherwise feel like a single destination. Why Are Some Islands Divided? Island borders are…

  • Airbus A350-1100: The Next Giant of the Skies?

    The aviation industry has always been driven by a simple challenge: how do you transport more people, more efficiently, across greater distances? From the era of four-engine giants such as the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380 to today’s highly efficient twin-engine aircraft, airlines have continuously sought the perfect balance between capacity, range, comfort, and…

Where curiosity leads



Travel isn’t about collecting countries, but about understanding them.
These are places that shaped how I see the world — not just destinations, but contexts, encounters, and stories waiting to unfold

Travel Beyond Tourism

  • Discover Places
  • Understand Cultures
  • Travel Better
  • Meet the World
  • Learn the Context
ed-Deir (“The Monastery”) in Petra, Jordan

My Travel guides

  • Not instructions, but orientation.
  • These guides explain how places work — so you don’t just visit, you arrive.

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –

Ibn Battuta

Maghrebi traveller