Ste.-Marie-aux-Mines Show 2018

摘要

The 55th edition of the Ste.-Marie-aux-Mines Show took place, as usual, in the old mining town of Ste.-Marie-aux-Mines, in the picturesque "Valley of Silver" in Alsace, eastern France. This is the second largest mineral show in Europe-second only to Munich- and its venue is significantly different from that of Munich or, for that matter, of Tucson or Denver. Besides the central "Theater" building, where a handful of high-end dealers set up, there are two long, low buildings in what is called the "Val Expo" space, hosting about 200 dealers, and more dealers hold court around a swimming pool in the "Piscine" building. However, the really distinctive, bazaar-like feature of Ste.-Marie is the maze of little white, canopied tents outdoors, extending along roadsides throughout the central part of town, each tent occupied by a dealership.