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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When Tectonic Plates Collide: Lebanon’s Hidden Earthquake Risk
If you’re planning a trip to Lebanon or just curious about why this particular corner of the world is geologically restless, you need to understand what’s happening literally beneath your feet. In August 2024, two earthquakes originating in neighboring Syria reminded everyone that the Levant sits on one of the most tectonically active zones on…
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Was the British Empire Evil? A Question That Still Divides the World
The British Empire governed roughly one in four people on Earth. It stretched across 24% of the world’s land area. It shaped laws, languages, borders, and economies that billions still live within today. Yet in classrooms from London to Lagos, people tell fundamentally different stories about what it meant. The Numbers At its height in…
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The Gallo Pinto War: A Friendly Culinary Rivalry Between Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Few dishes spark as much friendly debate in Central America as Gallo Pinto. This simple yet beloved combination of rice and beans is considered a national dish in both Nicaragua and Costa Rica, with each country proudly claiming it as its own. The so-called “Gallo Pinto War” is not a real conflict but a long-running…
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Tehran’s Metro: What It Says About Urban Priorities
When people think of Tehran, public transportation is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Yet the Iranian capital has quietly built one of the world’s largest and busiest metro systems, despite decades of economic sanctions and international isolation. Today, Tehran’s metro stretches for more than 300 kilometers (186 miles), with hundreds of stations…
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How Can Luxair Be Larger Than Arik Air?
How Can Luxair Be Larger Than Arik Air? At first glance, it sounds impossible. How could Luxair, the national airline of Luxembourg, a country with a population of just around 680,000 people, operate a larger fleet than Arik Air, one of Nigeria‘s best-known airlines, serving a country of more than 242 million people? Yet that’s…
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Art Is Data
We often think of art and data as opposites. One belongs in galleries, the other in spreadsheets. One speaks to emotion, the other to logic. But every work of art is data. A painting contains information about the artist, the era, the available materials, the culture, and the emotions of its time. A song records…
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