Second time visiting this show, confirmed to us that with its beautiful surroundings, the time of year, and the beautiful gemstones all around, this might just be our favorite gem show in the world. Unlike the first time however, we had a +1 join us - my daughter Mila! At just over 2 years old, this was her 4th gem show visited, after Tucson (twice), Bancroft and Toronto, and hard to say who had more fun, her or the rest of us.
We stayed in a small French town called Turckheim, just outside of Colmar, and absolutely fell in love with the people, the architecture, the cuisine. The French really know how to live!
After the show, we spent a few days in Baden Baden, a very sweet city in Germany close to the border with France, known for its Spas, and even got to watch a Germany World Cup match with the locals - which they unfortunately lost to South Korea. We brought back lots of wonderful gemstones, which you can find in our store or online!
Below you can scroll through some pictures of our trip. Enjoy.
Enjoying a stroll in Colmar on our first day in France
Mila making some friends
Me with my favorite ladies
Memories being made? I think so
The fam
Mila wants to take the hearts home
Some ice cream? why not
Saine Marie that way
Where.....Is......My......Pizza
WERE HERE...YAY
No thanks, but appreciate the honesty
Cute stop on the way to the gem show
Delicatessens
Wow, one of the rarest minerals in the world!!
Elena with Slava, one of the meteorites experts
Our friends, the Sokolowskis
Coral much?
Acquiring some Namibian minerals
Happy with our deal
Elena finding some space for photos in the crazy traffic
Proof where we are
Hi everyone
Looking good :)
Very cool jewelry made with Diamond crystals
Italian coral jewelry
Cool taxi
Newfound yellow Prehnite crystals
Seeing some locals
What's almost as fun as rocks? Great food and beer!
Rooster made from Russian Jade
Making friends
Stunning top quality Santa Maria Aquamarine necklaces, coming home with us
Little piece of bread anyone?
All smiles, French style
Getting lost in the show
Cool rare gems
Wow, look at the size of these Pezzottaites
Buying rare stones from Madagascar dealer
Elena looking for something cool
Strolling the streets of Turckheim
Mila asking me to buy her a new necklace - take note of her super cool shirt :)
Admiring pretty necklaces
My ladies
3 generations of The Russian Stone team
Mila taking a rest from all the shopping
And back to shopping - making friends
Well deserved meal - local cherries
Scrolling around
Look at that beautiful background
Hi guys!
Oh my, the color on this Russian Emerald!
Incredible Russian Tourmaline
Beautiful Rhodochrosite from Argentina
Wouldn't mind any of these
Look at that Black Opal heart!! Incredible
Local Pizza, much better than Pizza Hut or Pizza Pizza...not going to lie
Mila, where are you?
Hello from above!
Strolling through an ancient castle
Beautiful view, the heights are a little intimidating
Rose gardens!!
Royalty
Dostoevskis house
Walking the Black Forest
Daddy and daughter enjoying the Black Forest hike, and an apple, and good company, and good weather...
Watching the world cup match on our last day before flying home. Everyone is still exited before an unexpected 2-0 loss to South Korea.
We can't wait to come back next time!!
Cheers,
Mila, Kate, Elena, Valeri and Mike Petrov
The Russian Stone team