I am as adamant about not flying around the world by plane after I settle in Istria as I am enthusiastic about cruising around the Mediterranean by boat. Venice comes to mind at once, but there are many other places I would like to see again and again: Adriatic and Greek islands, the coast of Turkey, Cyprus, North Africa, South Spain… But Suez is already too far, and so is Gibraltar. If there is anything yet to be discovered, it is by the sea that cradled our loopy civilization. Indeed, does the Mediterranean harbor any promises of civilization’s return?