The sea is full of surprises, inspiring maritime nations, nautical architecture, shipping families and more. In this issue we celebrate everything the world’s waters have to offer – and one of us had to prise himself away from the conga and come back to shore.

It’s all hands on deck as we find out why so many international altercations are happening at sea.

The republic of Nagorno-Karabakh in the Caucasus lies in purgatory. Despite its violent history, peace and PR is seen as the fastest route to normality; we visited just before the most recent flare-up to see if it can succeed.

Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service is where the world’s top dogs learn their tricks. With leading academics and powerful policy-makers, the institution – and its students – is nothing if not ambitious.

Portugal’s president in shorts and the long game for Poland’s shipping industry.

Discover why Donald Trump won’t be getting a summer holiday and Bolivia isn’t happy with Chile.

Taiwanese roll the dice, Japan’s youth head for the ballot box and Hong Kongers hop in a dragon boat.

The Chagos Islands seek a change and Saudi Arabia fish for foreign investment.

We find Tonga’s king in Economy Class and Kiribatians in deep water.

Visit Pec – the Kosovan city with cultural muscle – and find out about Portland’s river revamp.

Why one of the biggest fights for Italy’s defence minister is her own standing – and some naval natter.

India’s ambassador in Kabul, Russia’s embassy in Cuba and Japan’s envoy in the Solomon Islands.

Merkel may be in murky waters at home and in Europe but her country is on the up.

The big names of the world’s oceans tend to keep it in the family – we meet the generational giants.

Turkish technology, Finnish fishermen, Afghan artisans and South Korean seaweed.

For a more sedated on-board experience, search out these two North American rowboat makers.

Our concept for a fleet of Greek cruise ships that would restore national pride.

What happens when monocle’s Culture editor goes on a cruise? The conga, that’s what.

Open the pages of a sumptuous German publication that pays homage to the high seas.

Drop anchor for seaside sales and collectors from the Italian Riviera to Newport Beach.

We visit the Venetian Lagoon to witness its glass-blowing traditions.

Surfboards, bathtubs and house boats – and a special focus on Milan's Salone del Mobile for good measure.

Every April designers, architects, manufacturers and buyers descend on Milan for the world’s premier furniture fair. Some 2,000 exhibitors display their wares at the fairgrounds in Rho while others opt for Fuorisalone, the off-site showrooms dotted across the city. Here are the standouts from this year.

London is home to the UN’s International Maritime Organization 1970s headquarters – and if you chug even further down the Thames you’ll find that a whole host of maritime architecture is revealed. Monocle explores the buildings that help keep sailors shipshape.

The Princes Islands in the Sea of Marmara are strewn with summer homes but none recall Turkey’s mid-century moment like this 1950s retreat. In fact, there’s still an echo of those times in its clean lines – and the occasional cocktail party.

This month we deck out readers with seaside-inspired trainers, Bulgarian beach bats and a new brew from Barcelona. Plus the German bags worth bragging about and fishing lures to angle for.

Get a good night’s rest in Barcelona’s newest openings, feel soothed in Scotland and spoiled in Santiago – and don’t miss out on a Nashville knockout. Monocle also brings you the low-down on travel trends in Russia and the Middle East.

The southwest corner of Adelaide’s city centre is tempting first-time buyers.

Hawaiian food is about more than sticking a pineapple on a pizza and calling it fusion. At the Livestock Tavern it means home cooking in every sense.

This month’s culinary spree includes a Tokyo carpenter turned coffee roaster, a French grocer with a literary history and a Japanese deli backed by a fashion label. With all these creative crossovers, it’s good to know that Italians still make the best gelato.

We meet the movers and shakers bringing fresh fish to masses of Madrileños.

Legendary graphic designer Bob Gill tucks into steak and chips and waxes lyrics about the Beatles, the Stones and his years as a piano man.

From a childhood collecting holiday brochures to alfresco currywurst and acquatic activities, our captain Tyler Brûlé reflects on a recent cruise before turning his attention to Monocle’s next event. Pack your trunks: we’re setting sail.

Africa’s tropical island of São Tomé isn’t so much a paradise lost as an opportunity squandered. Monocle reports on why corruption and misguided ambition are blights on an otherwise unspoilt landscape.