Thursday, August 9, 2018 5:26 AM

Along the shore, beneath the minaret, clusters of people watch the sun set over the sea. A small group in identical aprons sit together on steps and benches. I imagine that they are temporary staff, hired for a celebration. Two little girls in full wedding dresses, perhaps flower bearers, walk with their mother, who is wearing a tan jacket and shorts. Couples of women, men, and both hold hands and lean into each other. Nuns in what look like light summer habits murmur in French as I stand nearby. As the sun touches the water, even the cats come out and watch, perhaps purring a feline prayer to welcome the night.