We know that mint tea will form a part of the eventual show HALQA, whatever the show itself becomes, and we know that it will even form a part of the 10 minute scratch performance of it that we're giving at the BAC Freshly Scratched Festival in a few weeks time. So today we set off to get lost in the souks of Marrakech and find ourselves a teapot. Hopefully without getting too ripped off, though now that we are without Lahcen who knows...
After some aimless wandering we find ourselves outside a little shop that seems to be filled entirely with teapots, and not simply the new obviously factory-made kind but some more unique (and perhaps antique) looking ones. Also Noah has started to kick up a fuss. There is only so long we can keep him strapped in a buggy when there are so many exciting things to play with (and break) in the souk. So we stop and after some mint tea (which Noah has also taken a liking to) and a bit of haggling we settle on a pot. Eventually we find our way out again (after 6 hours) and eat dinner in a terrace restaurant overlooking the Jemaa. Noah is a huge hit with every Moroccan he encounters, as he's very happy to be picked up an cuddled and kissed. So the waiters adopt him while we look out over the square savouring our last night in Marrakech. And savouring the delights of a pastilla (my new favourite food - chicken, filo pastry, cinnamon and icing sugar - what's not to love). Suddenly the musicians in the square fall silent as the adhan, the Muslim call to prayer, rings out. It's not something you would notice in the square itself as the hubbub of voices continues unbated but high up on the terrace, with a minaret immediately to our right, the silence is unmistakably in response to the sound of the muezzin.