Mediterranean crabs

   Every summer as a child, my family and I would visit the beautiful volcanic island of Stromboli. As soon as we arrived, I would go straight to the beach, where we spent the most of our time snorkelling, climbing rocks, and fishing for crabs.

   I was always captivated by these crabs, with their hard shells and sharp claws. Although it was never simple to capture them, the thrill of battling and the task of remaining patient and enduring the conditions made it never tedious or uninteresting, and it was easy to lose track of time. We would occasionally take a small boat out to an outcrop in the sea where larger crabs were spawning, then return to a secluded beach and roast them over an open fire.

   Summers on Stromboli will always have a special place in my heart. Not just because of the wonderful recollections of the beach, snorkelling, and crab fishing, but also because it was a huge influence on my comprehension of the natural world and, as a result, my creative thinking.