Arnold Trampe and I are sitting on my sunlit terrace, surveying the Mirna valley, sipping wine, and talking about all sorts of things. “What kind of future do you see for Croatia?” he asks at some point. “Croatia is composed of several very different regions,” I start after a brief pause, “and each of them has a rather different future.” He nods in agreement. “But I am quite sure about the future of Istria,” I continue. Arnold turns toward me. “Given its location,” I turn toward him, “it’s only future is in becoming Florida to Europe—Southern Germany, Austria, Hungary, even Switzerland.” Arnold nods vigorously as I keep talking about the ageing baby-boom generation and countless opportunities it could offer to all sorts of businesses in the region. “I agree,” he says with conviction, “and there is nothing else I can imagine thriving here.” “Well,” I drive my point home, “the trouble is that no-one in Istria would understand a single word of what we are talking about right now.” Now we both nod and gaze toward the horizon.