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.
-
Beyond the Postcard Venice: Where the City Becomes Real
To truly understand Venice, you have to walk away from the postcard version of it. Not because that Venice is disappointing—it isn’t—but because it’s incomplete. The real Venice begins where souvenir stalls thin out, where menus lose their photos, and where the city resumes its daily rhythm. In Cannaregio, mornings feel almost domestic. Locals cross…
-
New Year on the Road — and the Curious History of the International Date Line
Celebrating New Year while travelling already feels slightly unreal. Midnight arrives in unfamiliar streets, airport lounges, or somewhere over an ocean. But nowhere does New Year feel more abstract than around the International Date Line—the invisible boundary where the world agrees that one day ends and another begins. Why the International Date Line Exists The…
-
Touristanbul: Turning a Layover into a City Break
Long layovers are usually something to endure. Touristanbul turns them into something else entirely: a guided, free introduction to one of the world’s most layered cities. Operated by Turkish Airlines, Touristanbul allows transit passengers at Istanbul Airport to step beyond the terminal and into the streets, mosques, bazaars, and waterfronts of Istanbul. For travelers who…
-
Positano — A Vertical Dream on the Amalfi Coast
Positano feels less like a town and more like a cascade. Pastel houses spill down steep cliffs toward the Tyrrhenian Sea, staircases replacing streets, bougainvillea softening stone. From almost anywhere, the view is cinematic: domes and balconies stacked against a blue horizon, boats drifting far below. A Town Built on Stairs Life in Positano moves…
-
Airports as Mirrors of the World
Airports do not just connect places — they reflect how the world actually works. Strip away the marketing slogans and glossy terminals, and airports become brutally honest spaces. They reveal who moves freely, who waits, who is welcomed, and who is merely tolerated. More than any city square or parliament building, airports show global reality…
-
Best Flights from Almaty to London — Your Guide to Routes, Airlines & Deals
Flying from Almaty International Airport (ALA) to London opens up one of the most exciting city-to-city connections between Central Asia and Western Europe. Whether you’re planning a bucket-list trip, connecting for business, or exploring London’s museums, theatres, and pubs, finding the right flight can make all the difference. Skyscanner+1 🛫 Direct Flights — Fastest &…
Dream destinations
Finding the perfect travel destination involves considering a variety of factors to ensure the trip meets your expectations and desires. My destinations
Research Destinations
- My Travel Blogs and Websites:
- Social Media:
- Books and Documentaries:
My Travel guides
- Travel guides are invaluable resources for planning and making the most of your trips.
- They provide detailed information on destinations, attractions, accommodation, dining, and local culture.
- Providing practical tips and itineraries with a focus on cultural experiences.
“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” –
Ibn Battuta
Maghrebi traveller