"What most amazed me was the sight of the great ocean itself. All round us, on both sides of the ship, ahead and astern, nothing was to be seen but water - water - water; not a single glimpse of green shore, not the smallest island or speck of moss anywhere.  Never did I realize till now what the ocean was: how grand and majestic, how solitary, and boundless, and beautiful and blue..."
Herman Melville
from Redburn