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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The Saudi Arabia–Jordan Land Swap: How Jordan Traded Desert for Red Sea Coastline
That shape is not accidental. In 1965, Jordan and Saudi Arabia redrew their border in one of the Middle East’s lesser-known territorial exchanges. Jordan gave up more land than it received, but what it gained was arguably much more strategically valuable: additional coastline around Aqaba. A border inherited from an earlier era The frontier between…
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The 1956 Malta Integration Plan: When Britain Offered Malta a False Equality
In 1956, Britain put forward an extraordinary proposal for Malta: instead of becoming independent, the island would be integrated into the United Kingdom. On paper, it sounded like a remarkable offer. Malta would supposedly become part of the British political system, while retaining its own Parliament and responsibility for most domestic affairs. Britain would provide economic…
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The Zagros Mountains of Iraq
Stretching across the eastern part of Iraq, the Zagros Mountains form one of the country’s most spectacular natural landscapes. Rising from broad valleys into rugged limestone peaks, the range creates a dramatic contrast with the plains and cities of Mesopotamia. The Iraqi Zagros are particularly prominent in the Kurdistan Region, where mountains, valleys, rivers and high plateaus shape…
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Bishoftu International Airport: Ethiopia Is Building Africa’s Next Aviation Megahub
There are airport expansions, and then there are infrastructure projects intended to change a country’s position on the world map. Bishoftu International Airport belongs firmly in the second category. Ethiopia has begun work on a new $12.5 billion international airport near Bishoftu, around 40–45 kilometres from Addis Ababa. When fully developed, Ethiopian officials expect it…
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9 September in North Korea: The Day the DPRK Was Born
There are countries where national days are celebrations. There are countries where they are exercises in collective memory. And then there is North Korea, where 9 September is part celebration, part political ritual and part declaration that the state itself has survived. Every year on 9 September, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea celebrates the…
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The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel: Europe Is Building a Shortcut Beneath the Baltic Sea
Europe is quietly removing a sea crossing from the map. Between the Danish island of Lolland and the German island of Fehmarn, one of the continent’s most ambitious infrastructure projects is taking shape beneath the Baltic Sea. The Fehmarnbelt Tunnel will stretch for approximately 18 kilometres, creating a permanent road and railway connection between Denmark…
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