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.
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Ibn Battuta’s Route and a Modern Flight Log: What History Teaches
Ibn Battuta left Tangier on 14 June 1325 with no particular plan to become history’s most travelled explorer. He simply wanted to complete the Hajj to Mecca, a religious obligation for any Muslim with the means to do so. What began as a straightforward pilgrimage would stretch across three decades and reshape his entire understanding…
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Things More Likely to Happen Than Winning EuroMillions
There’s a peculiar kind of optimism that comes with buying a lottery ticket. You hand over your cash, check your numbers a few hours later, and for a brief moment, anything feels possible. You could be the one. You could win. The odds say you won’t, of course. But maybe this time, you think. The…
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Why Travel Can Change You More Than You Expect
We often talk about travel as an escape. A break from work. A holiday. A chance to see somewhere new, eat different food, take photographs and collect another stamp in the passport. But anyone who has travelled extensively knows that something deeper can happen. Sometimes you return home and nothing has changed except you. There…
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Countries With Cardinal Directions in Their Names: North, South, East and West
Have you ever noticed how some countries literally point you in a direction? Among the nearly 200 countries in the world, only a handful have North, South, East or West in their commonly used English names. From North Korea to South Africa, these geographical words often tell a much bigger story about history, division, identity…
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Why Most Countries Don’t Have a Metro
It’s easy to assume that any reasonably developed country should have an underground railway. Tokyo has the Ginza Line. London has the Tube. Paris Why Most Countries Don’t Have a Metro It’s easy to assume that any reasonably developed country should have an underground railway. Tokyo has the Ginza Line. London has the Tube. Paris…
Where Curiosity Leads
Travel is more than ticking countries off a map. It’s about discovering the stories behind places, understanding the people who call them home, and seeing the world through new perspectives.
Quixotic Guide is a collection of destinations, cultures, history, aviation, food, and ideas, created for curious travellers who want to go beyond the guidebook. Whether you’re planning your next adventure or simply exploring from home, every article is designed to help you understand the world a little better.
Explore Beyond the Tourist Trail
- 🌍 Discover fascinating destinations
- 🏛️ Understand history and cultures
- 🍽️ Explore national dishes and traditions
- ✈️ Travel smarter with practical guides
- 💡 Gain context behind the headlines
- 📖 See the world through curiosity
“The more you understand a place, the more meaningful your journey becomes.”
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