{"id":2906,"date":"2025-05-23T13:41:45","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T13:41:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/?page_id=2906"},"modified":"2025-09-27T17:10:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T15:10:21","slug":"amsterdam-to-dubai-by-train","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/amsterdam-to-dubai-by-train\/","title":{"rendered":"Amsterdam to Dubai by train"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><header class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:20px;--awb-padding-bottom:112px;--awb-padding-left:20px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-right-small:10px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:10px;--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-background-color:#1b2226;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_3_5 3_5 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-stretch\" style=\"--awb-padding-bottom:25px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color6);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color6);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 10px 10px;--awb-width-large:60%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0.5%;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.2%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:20px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:20px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-margin-top-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-small:20px;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-0 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-left-small:10px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color4);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color4);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 0px 0px;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:0%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:0%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-margin-top-small:0px;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-1 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-one\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color7);--awb-margin-left:43px;--awb-sep-color:var(--awb-color7);--awb-font-size:40px;\"><h1 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Amsterdam to Dubai by train<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-1 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:10px;--awb-padding-left:26px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>DEPARTURE<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-2 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:10px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-small:3.84%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-bottom:5px;\"><p>ARRIVAL<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-3 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:48px;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:48px;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><div id=\"split-flap-6a05b2c0b4a07\" class=\"split-flap-display\" data-value=\"0\" data-values=\"Amsterdam, Netherlands; Amsterdam, Netherlands\" data-width=\"11\" data-size=\"xs\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-chars=\"alpha\" data-align=\"left\" data-padding=\"\" data-loop=\"true\" data-speed=\"50\" data-iterations-min=\"8\" data-iterations-max=\"12\" data-cycle-delay=\"3000\" data-font=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-4 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:48px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:48px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:20px;--awb-spacing-left-small:3.84%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-4\"><div id=\"split-flap-6a05b2c0b4cd1\" class=\"split-flap-display\" data-value=\"0\" data-values=\"Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Dubai, United Arab Emirates\" data-width=\"13\" data-size=\"xs\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-chars=\"alpha\" data-align=\"left\" data-padding=\"\" data-loop=\"true\" data-speed=\"50\" data-iterations-min=\"8\" data-iterations-max=\"12\" data-cycle-delay=\"3000\" data-font=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-5 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:15px;--awb-padding-bottom:8px;--awb-padding-left:26px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-line-height:1;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:4px;--awb-margin-bottom:5px;\"><p>DATE<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-6 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:48px;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:48px;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-6\"><div id=\"split-flap-6a05b2c0b52a4\" class=\"split-flap-display\" data-value=\"3 january 2022\" data-values=\"\" data-width=\"14\" data-size=\"xxs\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-chars=\"dark\" data-align=\"left\" data-padding=\"\" data-loop=\"true\" data-speed=\"50\" data-iterations-min=\"8\" data-iterations-max=\"12\" data-cycle-delay=\"3000\" data-font=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-7 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-stretch\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:48px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:48px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:20px;--awb-spacing-left-small:3.84%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-row fusion-flex-align-items-center\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-7\"><div id=\"split-flap-6a05b2c0b5502\" class=\"split-flap-display\" data-value=\"20 january 2022\" data-values=\"\" data-width=\"15\" data-size=\"xxs\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-chars=\"dark\" data-align=\"left\" data-padding=\"\" data-loop=\"true\" data-speed=\"50\" data-iterations-min=\"8\" data-iterations-max=\"12\" data-cycle-delay=\"3000\" data-font=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-8 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:15px;--awb-padding-bottom:8px;--awb-padding-left:26px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-8 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-line-height:1;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:4px;--awb-margin-bottom:5px;\"><p>DURATION<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-9 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:15px;--awb-padding-bottom:8px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:3.84%;--awb-spacing-left-small:3.84%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-9 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-line-height:1;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:4px;--awb-margin-bottom:5px;\"><p>MODE OF TRANSPORT<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-10 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-stretch\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:0%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:48px;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:0%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:48px;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:0%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-10\"><div id=\"split-flap-6a05b2c0b5c97\" class=\"split-flap-display\" data-value=\"17 days\" data-values=\"\" data-width=\"7\" data-size=\"xxs\" data-theme=\"dark\" data-chars=\"dark\" data-align=\"left\" data-padding=\"\" data-loop=\"true\" data-speed=\"50\" data-iterations-min=\"8\" data-iterations-max=\"12\" data-cycle-delay=\"3000\" data-font=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-11 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column fusion-flex-align-self-stretch image-container\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:10px;--awb-padding-bottom:10px;--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:48px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:50%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:48px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:3.84%;--awb-width-small:50%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:20px;--awb-spacing-left-small:3.84%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-row fusion-flex-align-items-center\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-margin-right:20px;--awb-max-width:45px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"55\" height=\"30\" title=\"Train 30&#215;30 White\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Train-30x30-White.webp\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-1546\"\/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-margin-right:20px;--awb-max-width:45px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"54\" height=\"30\" alt=\"Bus icon in white\" title=\"Bus Icon 30&#215;30 White\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Bus-Icon-30x30-White.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-1540\"\/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-max-width:40px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-3 hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"46\" height=\"30\" alt=\"Ferry icon in white\" title=\"Ferry Icon 30&#215;30 White\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Ferry-Icon-30x30-White.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-1542\"\/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-12 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-left:26px;--awb-padding-left-small:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:10px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-11 fusion-text-no-margin\" style=\"--awb-font-size:22px;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-bottom:9px;\"><p>INFORMATION<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-builder-row-inner fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column_inner fusion-builder-nested-column-13 fusion_builder_column_inner_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top:10px;--awb-padding-left:25px;--awb-padding-right-small:15px;--awb-padding-left-small:15px;--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-color-hover:var(--awb-color8);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:5px 5px 5px 5px;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:48px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0px;--awb-spacing-left-large:48px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:45px;--awb-margin-bottom-medium:0px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:45px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:20px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:0px;--awb-spacing-left-small:20px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-12 custom-text-2\" style=\"--awb-font-size:24px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color3);\"><p>Got Invited to speak in Dubai. Took the train.<br \/>\nCalled It the World\u2019s longest commute.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-overflow:hidden;--awb-bg-color:rgba(253,252,252,0);--awb-bg-color-hover:rgba(253,252,252,0);--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-radius:10px 10px 10px 10px;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:4.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:0.5%;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.2%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:20px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:20px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-video fusion-selfhosted-video\" style=\"max-width:100%;\"><div class=\"video-wrapper\"><video playsinline=\"true\" width=\"100%\" style=\"object-fit: cover;\" autoplay=\"true\" muted=\"true\" loop=\"true\" preload=\"auto\"><source src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Amsterdam-to-Dubai-by-train.webm\" type=\"video\/webm\"><source src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Amsterdam-to-Dubai-by-train.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\">Sorry, your browser doesn&#039;t support embedded videos.<\/video><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:132px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:60px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:19px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-center fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top-small:25px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:4.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:4.8%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-2 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two  responsive-title-h2-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Planes are fast, but trains have better stories<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-13\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>In 2022, I embarked on a new adventure, traveling from Amsterdam to Dubai using only public transportation. This journey was sparked by an invitation to speak at Expo 2020. With the Blue Bandit now a museum piece, I sought an alternative way to reach the Emirates, and taking the train felt like the most logical choice.<\/p>\n<p>At first, I wasn\u2019t even sure if such a trip was possible. But the idea captivated me: What sights would I encounter? Who would I meet along the way? What would it feel like to spend days crossing borders by train?<\/p>\n<p>Planning the journey was not easy, I relied on various websites and blogs to map out a route that would take me through Europe, Turkey, and into the Persian Gulf, where a ferry would finally bring me to Dubai.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-video fusion-youtube rounded-video-yt \" style=\"--awb-max-width:1200px;--awb-max-height:675px;--awb-align-self:flex-end;--awb-width:100%;\"><div class=\"video-shortcode\"><lite-youtube videoid=\"PvFTXG164a4\" class=\"landscape\" params=\"wmode=transparent&autoplay=1&amp;enablejsapi=1\" title=\"YouTube video player 1\" data-button-label=\"Play Video\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-thumbnail-size=\"auto\" data-no-cookie=\"on\"><\/lite-youtube><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-3 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">The route<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-14\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>Before the Covid pandemic, it was possible to travel by train all the way from Amsterdam to Bandar Abbas. However, due to train cancellations during the pandemic, I had to switch to buses at certain points to keep the journey moving.<\/p>\n<p>As with any true adventure, the route shifted along the way. These unexpected changes didn\u2019t just fill in the gaps, they added to the richness and unpredictability of the experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-4 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:10px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\"A map showing the route Wiebe Wakker took from Amsterdam to Dubai by train.\" title=\"Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-200x113.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-400x225.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-600x338.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-800x450.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-Dubai-Train.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:85px;--awb-padding-bottom:98px;--awb-padding-top-medium:40px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:40px;--awb-padding-top-small:49px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-4 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">The journey<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-5 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-two\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:40px;\"><h2 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;margin:0;letter-spacing:-1.9px;font-size:1em;\">From Amsterdam to Dubai by train<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-5 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:165px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:70px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:30px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-7 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-6 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">I. Europe<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-15\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>I began my journey on the 3rd of January, leaving Amsterdam aboard two German ICE trains that brought me to Vienna, on time, which is quite unusual for a long-distance German train.<\/p>\n<p>From there, I boarded the Dacia Express, the night train to Bucharest, waking up to the stunning landscapes of Transylvania.<\/p>\n<p>Naturally, my train arrived late in Bucharest, because what\u2019s an adventure without a little chaos? I had to sprint to the bus terminal to catch a 12-hour coach ride to Istanbul, giving me plenty of time to reflect on my life choices.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-8 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"awb-gallery-wrapper awb-gallery-wrapper-1 button-span-no\" style=\"--more-btn-alignment:center;\"><div style=\"margin:-5px;--awb-bordersize:0px;--awb-border-radius:10px;\" class=\"fusion-gallery fusion-gallery-container fusion-grid-2 fusion-columns-total-3 fusion-gallery-layout-masonry fusion-gallery-1\"><div class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-grid-sizer\"><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-landscape\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_1]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.4 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker with his suitcase in front of a high speed train at Amsterdam Centraal station.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at Amsterdam Centraal\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker at Amsterdam Centraal\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Amsterdam-Centraal.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 640px) 1200px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_1]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker staring out of the window after waking up on the Dacia Express.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker aboard the Dacia Express\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker aboard the Dacia Express\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-aboard-the-Dacia-Express.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_1]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest.webp\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker in front of Gara de Nord station in Bucharest, Romania.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at Gara de Nord Bucharest\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker at Gara de Nord Bucharest\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2928\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Gara-de-Nord-Bucharest.webp 960w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-6 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-bottom:130px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:50px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-9 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-margin-bottom:20px;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-5 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker at the Bosporus river in Istanbul. In front of Ortak\u00f6y mosque during sunrise.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker in Istanbul\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Istanbul.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-10 fusion_builder_column_3_5 3_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:60%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.2%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.2%;--awb-width-medium:80%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.4%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.4%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-7 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Reaching Istanbul<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-16\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">Just 48 hours after leaving Amsterdam, I arrived at the outskirts of Istanbul. I jumped on the metro to the Bosphorus, arriving just in time to catch this stunning sunrise.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I sat down for a much-needed chai and some pide, and with two days to explore the city, I soaked in the sights at my own pace.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-7 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:149px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:70px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-11 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-8 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">II. Turkey<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-17\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>From Istanbul S\u00f6\u011f\u00fctl\u00fc\u00e7e\u015fme Station, a quick 4-hour high-speed train took me to Turkey\u2019s capital, Ankara.<\/p>\n<p>The iconic Do\u011fu Ekspresi turned out to be the most stunning ride of the entire journey. This route, known for its breathtaking views, travels from Ankara to Kars, cutting through Turkey\u2019s mountainous and snow-covered landscapes. Offering a surreal experience with views of remote villages and snow covered valleys. The untouched, rural scenery and tranquility almost made me forget I hadn\u2019t moved in 17 hours.<\/p>\n<p>And all of this for just \u20ac3, less than the price of a kebab. Easily the best deal of the trip.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-12 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"awb-gallery-wrapper awb-gallery-wrapper-2 button-span-no\" style=\"--more-btn-alignment:center;\"><div style=\"margin:-5px;--awb-bordersize:0px;--awb-border-radius:10px;\" class=\"fusion-gallery fusion-gallery-container fusion-grid-2 fusion-columns-total-3 fusion-gallery-layout-masonry fusion-gallery-2\"><div class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid fusion-grid-sizer\"><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-landscape\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_2]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.4 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"View on snowy landscapes from the Dogu Express in Turkey.\" title=\"View from the Dogu Express\" aria-label=\"View from the Dogu Express\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/View-from-the-Dogu-Express.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 640px) 1200px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_2]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express.webp\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker about to board the Dogu express.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker Dogu Express\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker Dogu Express\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2946\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-Dogu-Express.webp 960w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_2]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station.webp\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker with his suitcase in the snow in front of Erzurum Station, Turkey.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at Erzurum station\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker at Erzurum station\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Erzurum-station.webp 960w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-8 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:155px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:60px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-13 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-9 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">III. Denied entry to Iran<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-18\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p>Traveling through Iran was crucial for completing this journey without flying. Just as I was preparing to leave, Iran unexpectedly announced a 15-day border closure. Determined to stick to my original plan, I adjusted my schedule, spending extra time in Istanbul and aiming to reach the border on day 16, hopeful it would reopen.<\/p>\n<p>But when I arrived, the border remained closed indefinitely, with no clear answers in sight. I had to quickly switch to plan B and reimagine the rest of my journey.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-14 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-6 hover-type-none\" style=\"border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker at the Turkey - Iran border.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at Iran border\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-Iran-border.webp 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-9 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:159px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:70px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-15 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-10 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">IV. Plan B: Iraq<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-19\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p data-start=\"2151\" data-end=\"2400\">From Gurbulak, I took a minibus to the border with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The crossing was surprisingly smooth. I entered Erbil and was greeted with smiles, tea, and genuine hospitality. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq isn\u2019t on many train bucket lists, but it should be.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2402\" data-end=\"2628\">I spent a few unforgettable days in Erbil before catching a flight, the only one of the trip, to Amman, Jordan. There was simply no overland way forward. Sometimes, even the most committed low-carbon traveler needs a Plan B.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-16 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-padding-top-medium:0px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:0px;--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"awb-gallery-wrapper awb-gallery-wrapper-3 button-span-no\" style=\"--more-btn-alignment:center;\"><div style=\"margin:-5px;--awb-bordersize:0px;--awb-border-radius:10px;\" class=\"fusion-gallery fusion-gallery-container fusion-grid-2 fusion-columns-total-4 fusion-gallery-layout-masonry fusion-gallery-3\"><div class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid fusion-grid-sizer\"><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_3]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi.webp\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" alt=\"A map of the route of Wiebe Wakker&#039;s backup plan travelling from Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi by train.\" title=\"Route Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi\" aria-label=\"Route Amsterdam to Abu Dhabi\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-66x66.webp 66w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-200x200.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-600x600.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-800x800.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Route-Amsterdam-to-Abu-Dhabi.webp 1080w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_3]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker in the middle of a group with locals in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker in Erbil\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker in Erbil\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-in-Erbil.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_3]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker sitting on the stairs of a shop at a local market in Erbil.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at the market in Erbil\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker at the market in Erbil\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2950\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-the-market-in-Erbil.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none fusion-element-grid\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_3]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><div style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit.webp);padding-top:calc((100% + 10px) * 0.8 - 5px);background-position:;\" class=\"fusion-masonry-element-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker wearing a traditional scarf and holding a stick, typical for the traditional outfit of the people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker wearing local outfit\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker wearing local outfit\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2962\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-200x150.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-400x300.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-800x600.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-wearing-local-outfit.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-10 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:30px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;max-width:calc( 100% + 20px ) !important;margin-left: calc(-20px \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-20px \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-17 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-11 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">V. Through Jordan and Saudi Arabia<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-20\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p data-start=\"2674\" data-end=\"2928\">In Amman, I secured a bus ticket to Saudi Arabia. Easy enough in theory. In practice, I was dropped off in the middle of the night, 10 km from the nearest city. A friendly stranger, the kind that seems to appear just when you need them, gave me a ride.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2930\" data-end=\"3194\">From there, I boarded the Saudi high-speed rail to Riyadh. The train sliced through the desert like a spaceship. Vast nothingness rolled past the windows, interrupted only by the occasional camel. I continued by bus, over the longest straight highway in the world.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-18 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:10px;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:10px;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:10px;--awb-spacing-left-medium:10px;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:10px;--awb-spacing-left-small:10px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"awb-gallery-wrapper awb-gallery-wrapper-4 button-span-no\" style=\"--more-btn-alignment:center;\"><div style=\"margin:-5px;--awb-bordersize:0px;--awb-border-radius:10px;\" class=\"fusion-gallery fusion-gallery-container fusion-grid-2 fusion-columns-total-4 fusion-gallery-layout-grid fusion-gallery-4\"><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_4]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2.webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"\" title=\"Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia\" aria-label=\"Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2970\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-with-locals-in-Hail-Saudi-Arabia-2.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_4]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia.webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Woman walking on the platform of the SAR Train Station in Hail, Saudi Arabia\" title=\"SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia\" aria-label=\"SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2964\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/SAR-Hail-Train-Station-Saudi-Arabia.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_4]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh.webp\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker and a local sitting on the floor in a restaurant having lunch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker having lunch in Riyadh\" aria-label=\"Wiebe Wakker having lunch in Riyadh\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-having-lunch-in-Riyadh.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding:5px;\" class=\"fusion-grid-column fusion-gallery-column fusion-gallery-column-2 hover-type-none\"><div class=\"fusion-gallery-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus.webp\" rel=\"noreferrer\" data-rel=\"iLightbox[gallery_image_4]\" class=\"fusion-lightbox\" target=\"_self\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus.webp\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker in front of the bus that dropped him off in Abu Dhabi, UAE.\" title=\"Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus\" aria-label=\"Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2968\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arrived-in-Abu-Dhabi-by-bus.webp 800w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 712px) 598px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-11 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:134px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-bottom:101px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-top-medium:70px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:59px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-top-small:35px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:37px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-center fusion-flex-justify-content-center fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-19 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-border-color:var(--awb-color3);--awb-border-style:solid;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"text-align:center;--awb-max-width:100%;--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-7 hover-type-none\" style=\"border:1px solid var(--awb-color3);border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"831\" height=\"554\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker arriving in Dubai after travelling by land from the Netherlands\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands.webp\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2976\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-arriving-in-Dubai-after-travelling-by-land-from-the-Netherlands.webp 831w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 831px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-20 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:80%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:2.4%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:2.4%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-12 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Arrived in Dubai<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-21\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">After 17 days of traveling, I finally reached my destination. Unexpectedly, this journey turned out to be one of the most memorable and fascinating trips I\u2019ve ever undertaken.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I loved seeing the scenery, people and culture gradually change. Each part of the journey brought new experiences and new faces, turning what could have been just a trip into an adventure rich with stories. It was full of discovery, connection and unpredictability, exactly how I like my travels.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">I spent a few weeks in Dubai before heading home as planned: by ferry to Iran, and then, more or less, retracing my route by train back to Amsterdam.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-12 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-21 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:4.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:4.8%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-13 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">Why did I do it this way?<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-22\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"305\">I was invited by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speak at Expo 2020 in Dubai, to share my story of driving an electric car from the Netherlands to Australia.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"307\" data-end=\"382\">But flying there just to talk about <em data-start=\"343\" data-end=\"363\">sustainable travel<\/em> didn\u2019t make sense. So I asked myself: \u201cCan I get to Dubai in a sustainable way?\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"453\" data-end=\"654\">Driving again wasn\u2019t an option, my car was in a museum. Public transport became the plan. I pieced together trains, buses, and borders using Seat 61, Rome2Rio and Google Maps. It took 17 days.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"656\" data-end=\"732\">Was that practical? Not really. But flying isn\u2019t exactly sustainable either.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"734\" data-end=\"939\">I wanted to challenge the default. To prove there\u2019s another way.<br data-start=\"798\" data-end=\"801\" \/>And along the way, I saw places most people skip. I got stuck, rerouted, and helped by strangers. The journey gave meaning to the message.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"941\" data-end=\"1019\">In the end, I didn\u2019t just go to give a talk. The journey <em data-start=\"1002\" data-end=\"1007\">was<\/em> the talk.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-22 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-8 hover-type-none\" style=\"border:1px solid var(--awb-color3);border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker standing at the main hall of EXPO 2020 Dubai.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker at EXPO 2020 Dubai\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2992\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-at-EXPO-2020-Dubai.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-13 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-top:67px;--awb-padding-bottom:94px;--awb-padding-top-medium:49px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:16px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:34px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"max-width:1248px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-23 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-14 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-center fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three\" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:30px;--awb-margin-bottom:20px;--awb-font-size:40px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-center\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;letter-spacing:-0.3px;font-size:1em;\">This adventure was featured on<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-24 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column logo-carousel\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:100%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:1.92%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:1.92%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-carousel fusion-image-carousel-fixed fusion-image-carousel-1\"><div data-marquee-direction=\"left\" class=\"awb-carousel awb-swiper awb-swiper-carousel awb-carousel--marquee awb-swiper-dots-position-bottom awb-carousel--masked\" data-layout=\"marquee\" data-autoplay=\"no\" data-autoplayspeed=\"2500\" data-autoplaypause=\"no\" data-columns=\"6.0\" data-columnsmedium=\"1\" data-columnssmall=\"1\" data-itemmargin=\"0\" data-itemwidth=\"180\" data-touchscroll=\"no\" data-freemode=\"no\" data-imagesize=\"fixed\" data-scrollitems=\"0\" data-centeredslides=\"no\" data-rotationangle=\"50\" data-depth=\"100\" data-speed=\"1800\" data-shadow=\"no\" data-pagination=\"bullets\" style=\"--awb-columns:6.0;--awb-column-spacing:0px;--awb-dots-align:center;\"><div class=\"swiper-wrapper awb-image-carousel-wrapper fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\"><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"95\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CNN.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"CNN logo\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"44\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Sky-News.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"Sky News Logo\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"264\" height=\"70\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-National.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"The National logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-National-200x53.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/The-National.webp 264w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 1000px) 200px, (min-width: 928px) 240px, (min-width: 856px) 300px, (min-width: 784px) 400px, (min-width: 712px) 600px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"455\" height=\"69\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RailTech.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"Railtech logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RailTech-200x30.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RailTech-300x45.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RailTech-400x61.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/RailTech.webp 455w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 1000px) 200px, (min-width: 928px) 240px, (min-width: 856px) 300px, (min-width: 784px) 400px, (min-width: 712px) 600px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"65\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Lovin-Dubai.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"Lovin Dubai logo\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\"><div class=\"fusion-carousel-item-wrapper\"><div class=\"fusion-image-wrapper hover-type-none\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"134\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Dubai-Eye.webp\" class=\"attachment-portfolio-two size-portfolio-two\" alt=\"Dubai Eye logo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Dubai-Eye-200x67.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Dubai-Eye-300x101.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Dubai-Eye.webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 2200px) 100vw, (min-width: 1000px) 200px, (min-width: 928px) 240px, (min-width: 856px) 300px, (min-width: 784px) 400px, (min-width: 712px) 600px, (min-width: 640px) 712px, \" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-14 fusion-flex-container has-pattern-background has-mask-background hundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"--awb-border-radius-top-left:0px;--awb-border-radius-top-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-right:0px;--awb-border-radius-bottom-left:0px;--awb-padding-right:45px;--awb-padding-left:45px;--awb-padding-right-medium:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-medium:0px;--awb-padding-left-medium:20px;--awb-padding-right-small:20px;--awb-padding-bottom-small:0px;--awb-padding-left-small:20px;--awb-margin-bottom-small:0px;--awb-flex-wrap:wrap;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start fusion-flex-justify-content-space-between fusion-flex-content-wrap\" style=\"width:104% !important;max-width:104% !important;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-25 fusion_builder_column_2_5 2_5 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:40%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:4.8%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:4.8%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-title title fusion-title-15 fusion-sep-none fusion-title-text fusion-title-size-three  responsive-title-h3-alt \" style=\"--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);--awb-margin-top:0px;--awb-font-size:60px;\"><h3 class=\"fusion-title-heading title-heading-left\" style=\"font-family:&quot;Inter&quot;;font-style:normal;font-weight:600;margin:0;font-size:1em;\">The talk (that almost didn&#8217;t happen)<\/h3><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-23\" style=\"--awb-font-size:20px;--awb-line-height:1.3;--awb-text-color:var(--awb-color1);\"><p data-start=\"120\" data-end=\"251\">Here\u2019s the twist: the talk that sparked this whole journey at EXPO 2020\u2026 got cancelled.<br data-start=\"194\" data-end=\"197\" \/>I found out while I was in Istanbul, halfway to Dubai.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"253\" data-end=\"301\">Seventeen days of travel for nothing? Not quite.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"303\" data-end=\"507\">Word of my no-fly journey spread, and that\u2019s when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uitp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UITP<\/a> \u2014 the global public transport association \u2014 reached out. They invited me to be the keynote speaker at their MENA Transport Congress in Dubai.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"509\" data-end=\"616\">So I kept going. And when I finally arrived, I shared why &#8220;travel by plane changes your day, travel by train changes your life&#8221; on a much bigger stage than I ever expected<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"194\" data-end=\"269\">What started as a cancelled talk turned into something much bigger. And once again, the journey delivered more than the destination.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-24\"><div class=\"battery-wrapper\">\n  <a href=\"\/en\/motivational-speaker\" class=\"battery-button\"><br \/>\n    <span class=\"battery-fill\"><\/span><br \/>\n    <span class=\"battery-label\">Motivational speaker<\/span><br \/>\n  <\/a><br \/>\n  <span class=\"battery-pole\"><\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-26 fusion_builder_column_1_2 1_2 fusion-flex-column\" style=\"--awb-bg-size:cover;--awb-width-large:50%;--awb-margin-top-large:0px;--awb-spacing-right-large:3.84%;--awb-margin-bottom-large:20px;--awb-spacing-left-large:3.84%;--awb-width-medium:100%;--awb-order-medium:0;--awb-spacing-right-medium:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-medium:1.92%;--awb-width-small:100%;--awb-order-small:0;--awb-spacing-right-small:1.92%;--awb-spacing-left-small:1.92%;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-column-has-shadow fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\"><div class=\"fusion-image-element \" style=\"--awb-caption-title-font-family:var(--h2_typography-font-family);--awb-caption-title-font-weight:var(--h2_typography-font-weight);--awb-caption-title-font-style:var(--h2_typography-font-style);--awb-caption-title-size:var(--h2_typography-font-size);--awb-caption-title-transform:var(--h2_typography-text-transform);--awb-caption-title-line-height:var(--h2_typography-line-height);--awb-caption-title-letter-spacing:var(--h2_typography-letter-spacing);\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-9 hover-type-none\" style=\"border:1px solid var(--awb-color3);border-radius:20px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" alt=\"Wiebe Wakker is keynote speaker at the UITP Transport Congress. He is seen standing on a big stage in Dubai.\" title=\"Wiebe Wakker keynote speaker at UITP MENA Transport Congress\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress.webp\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-2994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-600x400.webp 600w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wiebe-Wakker-keynote-speaker-at-UITP-MENA-Transport-Congress.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1267,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"100-width.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2906","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2906"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6330,"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2906\/revisions\/6330"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.wiebewakker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}