Mediterranean octopus

   There is a small beach on the volcanic island of Stromboli in Italy I frequently used to visit. It was the ideal habitat for small young octopuses and was known in my family as the "Octopus Beach”. Over time I became quite skilled at spotting them hiding under the rocks, their intelligence, grace and curiosity fascinated me. I loved swimming after them, observing them using their ink for clever tricks of misdirection or their ability to change colour at any second. I learned a lot about their behaviour.

   One day, some divers came to this same beach and spearfished the octopuses. This broke my heart. I couldn’t bring myself to support fishing such an intelligent creature. I decided to make a childhood promise to myself - never to eat octopus. To this day my promise is still intact.