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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Why Does the European Union Have So Few Skyscrapers?
The world’s tallest building reaches 828 metres into the sky. The tallest in the European Union stands at just 310 metres. What does this remarkable difference tell us about Europe? Look at the skylines of Dubai, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen. They are dominated by enormous towers, some rising more than half a kilometre above…
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Dresden: A City That Refused to Disappear
From Baroque splendour to the destruction of 1945, from communist East Germany to reunification, Dresden is a city where European history is visible on almost every street. Some cities impress you with their architecture. Others fascinate you with their history. Dresden manages to do both. Located on the banks of the River Elbe in eastern…
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Why Does London Heathrow Have No Terminal 1? The Story Behind the Missing Terminal
London Heathrow has a Terminal 2, Terminal 3, Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. But where is Terminal 1? If you’ve ever flown through , you might have noticed something strange. One of the world’s busiest international airports has four passenger terminals, numbered 2 to 5. There is no Terminal 1. It almost sounds like somebody…
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Kunashir Island: The Island Where Russia and Japan Almost Touch
Imagine standing on a Russian island and looking across the sea towards Japan. On a clear day, the Japanese island of Hokkaido is visible on the horizon. The two countries are separated by just 16 kilometres of water, yet more than 80 years of unresolved history lie between them. Welcome to Kunashir Island, one of…
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Goodbye Nauru, Hello Naoero: A Pacific Nation Reclaims Its Original Name
One of the world’s smallest countries has made a big statement. In 2026, Nauru officially became Naoero, reclaiming a name that existed long before Europeans arrived on its shores. There are 193 member states of the United Nations, and we tend to think of their names as permanent. But countries change their names more often…
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