Grilled Sardines Mint Tea Market Doorway

Oily skin of grilled sardines glistens on a rough ceramic plate beside a tall glass of mint tea, both resting on a weathered wooden counter. Crumbs scatter across the surface, catching the soft light filtering through a nearby awning. The heavy overcast sky casts a diffuse, even glow over the outdoor market stall near Petah Tikva. A rectangular doorway cut directly into the brick wall behind the food opens not to a street, but to the open ocean. Deep blue water fills the frame within the door, meeting the horizon line at eye level. Salt spray seems to hang in the air near the glass rim. The wooden edge of the table shows deep scratches and grain patterns. One shadow from the tea glass falls across a pile of crumbs.