Chestnuts Roasted on an Open Fire

This last weekend we had the privilege of getting in our car (which we have had for a week now) and driving a short distance out of Istanbul to a small town called Polonezköy.  The history of the town is kind-of interesting as it was settled by a group of failed Polish revolutionaries in 1842.  It is pretty small today and mostly attracts Istanbulites who want to get away for the weekend or go out for breakfast.  There are some great walking trails out there and that is why we went last Sunday, to go for a hike in the woods.  We had a lovely hike with the kids.  It is always refreshing to be in God's creation, enjoying the light filtering through leaves, the smell of dampness in the woods and the sound of leaves crushing under our feet.  As we were nearing the end of our hike we noticed people walking slowly, looking at the ground and poking around with their sticks.  Whatever they were collecting they were putting in plastic bags so we asked what they were foraging.  They immediately pulled out their bags and inside were chestnuts.  They showed us how to find them and so we also started foraging for our own chestnuts.  The kids are always up for a hunt and so we had a good time trying to find chestnuts.  Below is a picture of what they look like in their husks.  Their husks are really prickly, thus the need for the sticks everyone was carrying.  You poke the prickly husks with a stick to get the chestnuts out.  It was a very fun and successful day in the woods. We also enjoyed eating roasted chestnuts on the ride home.  :)

Chestnut Husks with dangerous poky spikes

The chestnuts from the husks. 

Then they are roasted.

And then sold on the street.