Bamboozled by chestnuts

After many grueling hours of turbulence, unexpected long layovers, and some additional delays, Sean and I are safe and sound in Hanoi. Our hotel is beyond what we expected in quality and the city is just bustling. Bustling so much so, I just about thought our driver from airport transfer was going to kill someone, perhaps even a few people, on our commute to the city. There are no rules whatsoever, no lights, no helmet law, nothing.

We had a whole half day to wander the chaotic streets and explore what was around us. Like many touristy areas, there are several street vendors and panhandlers trying to get your cold, hard-earned U.S. dollars. We were approached by one after another trying to sell us fruit, travel books (no thanks, but the one we have in our hands is sufficient), and cigarette lighters (?). I did watch one not-so-offensive merchant sitting on the sidewalk and slowly peeling chestnuts one by one. I'm sure it took her a good minute or so to break off the outer skin of one lonely chestnut. Then plop, into a bag that she could fill with about 20 chestnuts for her try to sell us pesky tourists. I was sold. I a) love chestnuts and b) couldn't believe she spends her days peeling those fingertip numbing shells. I asked her for a bag and she mumbled "thirty." Thirty what? Dollars? Um, no. Dong? Perhaps, but that would make the bag about $2 US. Seems kind of spendy when I just had a beer for 87 cents. I panicked and threw two $1 US bills at her and even followed it with "Are you sure that's enough?" Actually, it was more than enough, and I must've looked like I was made of money. I was then accosted by 3 other vendors, one of which was selling her chestnuts for 50 cents!

Bamboozled, I tell ya. But those suckers are a bitch to peel. I've done it and it sucks...and now I'm just justifying my poor judgment. I really just bamboozled myself.