Chestnuts

I haven't been here in Shanghai long enough to know how to tell that seasons are about to shift. In North America, at least in the Vancouver area, numerous corn stalls and tomatoes by the boxes usually signal the arrival of late summer. Here, the mountains of melons that were being sold on the street corners (literally on the sidewalk) have all but disappeared the days are also slightly cooler, and the nights noticeably so.

Last week portable gas powered carts started appearing on the already crowded streets. When I peered into them, I noticed with some surprise , that they were full of chestnuts. Since I associate roasted chestnuts with the winter street scene in Vancouver, I was was not expecting them. However, this did not prevent me from purchasing a bag- so on my way back from the grocery store, I stopped and bought a plastic bag (weighed by a hand held stick and weight) from a young couple with a baby. I payed them 10.00 RMB (around 1.50) and I munched on some of them while they were still hot, and without missing a step on the walk home. I don't know if they grow these somewhere in China, but they seem to be in season now. Or perhaps roasting the chestnuts is what is really in season now.