Bob's Findings - July 2011 Article - Ensisheim - Meteorite 2011 - in

An Article In Meteorite-Times Magazine
by Robert Verish

Ensisheim - Meteorite 2011
Images from the international gathering of meteorite aficionados.

This was the year that I finally made it to Ensisheim.
For years I've been reading about and seeing the images from all of the meteorite collectors and dealers who attend this "Show". But this was the year that I got the opportunity to return to Europe, so I made sure my trip would coincide with this annual event. But chosing this time of year to visit France and Germany is a "no-brainer" because the weather is so mild in the late Spring. In June the weather is quite variable, and although there were brief storms during the week prior to, and after the "Show", the conditions over the course of the weekend of the event were excellent.

I mentioned "return to Europe" because I actually lived in Germany for a short while nearly 40 years ago. It was during that time that I met for the first time a very young woman by the name of Monika Waiblinger. That girl impressed me so much that, 40 years later, she is now my fiancee. Yes, that's right, you know her as Moni "Meteorite-Huntress". And being my fiancee, I felt that this was a good time to go to Germany to meet her family and relatives.

So, our trip to Ensisheim is actually just a part of a 2-week long European vacation. That weekend of the "Show" spent in the Alsace region of France was "bookended" by a prior trip to the Steinheim Crater, and then a subsequent return trip to France for the "Mineral Show" in St. Marie sux Mines, soon followed by another trip to Nordlingen and the Ries Crater. I won't be describing those trips in this article because they each deserve their own individual articles.

Another thing I won't be describing is the history of the Ensisheim Meteorite Show or the fall of the Ensisheim meteorite, or the origin of the Saint-George's Brotherhood Since this article is already one of several in an on-line magazine dedicated to meteorites, I will spare the devotees an education they have already acquired. But, for those of you who may have arrived here by way of an errant Google search engine result, or are otherwise un-initiated to our peculiar subculture (yet are now curious about "Alsacian sky rock collecting") you would be best served to go directly to my "REFERENCES" section at the end of this article.

Actually, compiling a list of references that are Ensisheim-related was my main objective when I wrote this article. I wanted to offer a web page that would serve as a compilation of all the various image galleries for the 2011 Ensisheim Show. Besides, most of those galleries were far superior to my images anyway. And now I am free to write a more personal reflection of our trip to Ensisheim.

A village with history, a town with a future!

Translation = "Ensisheim - meteorite 2011 Show,
12th Annual Exposition & International Exchange(or Study) of Objects of Extraterrestrial Origin:
Meteorites & Tektites & Impactites
Title of Lecture: NWA, the Bonanza of Saharan Meteorites.
At the Regency Palace, Ensisheim Alsace, France, 18-19th June 2011".
(This is a very rough ENGLISH translation.)
(You can click on the above image in order to ENLARGE.)

This wasn't Moni's first trip to the Ensisheim Meteorite Show. She had attended the 2006 Show. So, this was great for me. I had my own personal guide. Moni was able to offer me a running commentary as what was the same from her 2006 visit, and what had changed. The good news is that Moni didn't see any major changes. There were some vendors from 2006 that didn't set-up this year, but overall there were more people selling (but they all weren't selling meteorites). Moni didn't go so far as to say that there were more meteorites being offered by vendors, but she did say that the percentage of unclassified NWA was less. It was my impression that there was very little room for any additional vendors, and the room that was made available for each vendor precluded that only the very best material would be displayed.

My one suggestion (in order to make for more display/vendor space) would be to move the table with all of the Omani meteor-wrongs (at the top of the spiral stairwell, right at the entrance) to a less conspicuous spot (like across the courtyard and into the cathedral, where only prayer and a miracle could turn those -wrongs into -rites). At the least, the meteor-wrongs were an amusing distraction for the seasoned collector, but must have been very misleading for the neophytes. Unfortunately, everytime that I would enter or exit the display room in the Palace, I would pass by this table full of rocks that some poor soul had brought all the way from the Omani desert. And as if the table was beckoning me to try and find a real meteorite, I would stop and examine a few more of these meteor-wrongs, hoping that one of these desert rocks was a meteorite. But it was a waste of my time, because they were all terrestrial. In hindsight, my time would have been better spent had I went straight down to the plaza and had a few more drinks in the tent with the other attendees.

Come to think of it, we should have spent more time down in the plaza. Because we had a great time there; whether we were drinking in the tent with old friends, or meeting people, or making new friends, or eating with them out in the open-air cafe.

Five more Guardians are inducted into the Saint George's Brotherhood. In this image our own Martin Horejsi from Montana USA, author of the "Accretionary Desk", stands front and center with his award. (You can click on the above image in order to ENLARGE.)

Speaking of meeting old friends, it was a pleasure to run into Martin Horejsi early on the first day, and we were thrilled to be present at the ceremony when he was inducted as a Guardian into the "St. George's Brotherhood of the Ensisheim Meteorite". Martin was one of the first Americans that we met upon our arrival, and I found it appropriate because his article, "Ensisheim! The King of Meteorites" is one of the best tellings of the Ensisheim story that I ever read.

Martin had brought his son, Lucas, with him. In fact, entire families were not the exception at Ensisheim. Lucas was kept company with Dave Gheesling's daughter, Maddie. Dave's family was often seen with Russ Finney's family, as well as, with Sven Buhl's entire family. We all stayed at the same hotel, The Domaine du Moulin. According to Moni, this hotel had been recently renovated. She said that it certainly wasn't the same hotel that was there in 2006, as best as she could recollect.

Another improvement since 2006, according to Moni, was the expansion and renovation of the museum (Musee de la Regence) on the first floor and in the basement of the Palace (Place de lEglise). This is where the Ensisheim Meteorite is presently on display. There were two other display cases of meteorites that were on temporary display, just for the Show. The rest of the museum had great natural history displays with professionally prepared exhibits depicting Ensisheim's Archeology, History, and Potash Industry. I found this museum to be a convenient and very good reference point for all of the other attractions in the Ensisheim-Alsace area.

"A village with history, a town with a future!".
(You can click on this link in order to get an ENGLISH translation for this website.)

Plan well your visit to Ensisheim - Meteorite 2012, and give adequate time to view all of the many great museums and historical sites. (You can click on the above image in order to ENLARGE.)

Time went by quickly and I didn't get to photograph every meteorite that I found interesting at the Show. But that wasn't my main objective. I figured that would be done by others anyway, and probably done so even more professionally, especially by the owners of those special meteorites. It was my hope that I could give a different perspective on this "Exposition". I hope that my personal view of this event (in the context of a side-trip as part of a 2-week long European vacation) will give the reader another insight into this unique international gathering and of the town of Ensisheim, itself.

I am looking forward to the next time that we can return to Ensisheim.

Click here to go to "Bob's Findings Article for July 2011 - Gallery of Images" to see more images from Ensisheim Meteorite 2011.

References:

The Wikipedia entry for: Ensisheim
- contains links to the Ensisheim Meteorite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensisheim

Martin Horejsi - Accretionary Desk: Ensisheim! The King of Meteorites
his November 2010 article in Meteorite-Times Magazine about...
"A November 1492 Witnessed Fall in Ensisheim, France - named:
Ensisheim! The King of Meteorites -
Born in 1492. Christened in 1727. Baptized in 1881...."
http://www.meteorite-times.com/accretion-desk/ensisheim-the-king-of-meteorites/

The St. Georges Confraternity (Brotherhood) of the Ensisheim Meteorite Guardians:
is organizing a CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC EVENT: ENSISHEIM-METEORITE 2011 ... Ensisheim meteorite - Encyclopedia
Internationale Meteoritenbörse Ensisheim, France - on JUNE 18 and 19, 2011 - Meteoriten 2011 Show
http://www.meteorite2011.karamako.net/resources/2011+flyer.pdf

The following REFERENCES are links to image galleries taken by individuals who attended, or were vendors, at the 2011 "Ensisheim Meteoriten Show":

IMCA Insights - an article in Meteorite-Times.com Magazine:
Ensisheim 2011 - 2011-07-01
Written by J.M.Masson, France, (describing his first visit to Ensisheim).
Images courtesy of various IMCA members.
This article has been edited by Anne Black and Norbert Classen
http://www.meteorite-times.com/imca-insights/ensisheim-2011-2/

Russ Finney - post on www.Cloudynights.com:
Some special Ensisheim Photos - #4692569 - 07/14/11 06:20 PM
After spending the last month in Europe I'm finally back with some time to catch up...
I made it to the Ensisheim show during my trip and I have the good luck to see Martin Horejsi become initiated into the Guardian Brotherhood!
What an awesome moment for any serious meteorite collector...
Here are a few photos I took during the event:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Number/4704888

Martin Horesji - replies to Russ Finney post on Cloudynights.com:
Some special Ensisheim Photos - #4694265 - 07/15/11 04:17 PM
With two attachments of images that Martin took during the event:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/4694267-IMG_0454.JPG
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/attachments/4694265-IMG_0453.JPG

Club Astro de Wittelsheim (CAW) - website:
La Bourse aux Météorites d’Ensisheim 2011 - 2011-06-24
including IMAGES of the lecture/presentation given by Mike Farmer.
Photos : Matthieu BACHSCHMIDT
http://www.astrocaw.eu/?p=841

Hanno Strufe - Meteorites: Ensisheim 2011 - 1/7
Hanno's Foto Galerien (Photo Galleries 1 thru 7)
Internationale Meteoritenbörse Ensisheim - France - 18. - 19. Juni 2011
http://www.strufe.net/0334af9a5a0cf8e1d/0334af9f090ec0002/0334af9f090ec9f07/index.php

Peter Marmet - Meteorites: Images from Ensisheim 2011 —
Another link to Peter Marmet's personal image gallery for :
Ensisheim 2011 - MARMET-METEORITES
http://www.marmet-meteorites.com/id55.html

Luther Jackson - Meteorites: Images from 2011 Ensisheim Meteorite Show —
The link to Luther Jackson's personal image gallery for :
Ensisheim 2011 - Meteorite Show
http://www.lutherjackson.co.uk/ensisheim_2011.html

The British and Irish Meteorite Society • View topic:
Jun 16, 2011 – The British and Irish Meteorite Society - (BIMS)TOPIC: Ensisheim 2011
Jun 21, 2011 – The BIMS discussion group @ http://bimsociety.org - TOPIC: Ensisheim 2011 photos.
A forum for B.I.M.S. members only, for details on joining see ...
http://www.bimsociety.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=115

Robert Verish photo-article titled: "Ensisheim 2011",
published in METEORITE magazine, date: AUGUST 2011, Volume 17, No.3
http://meteoritemag.uark.edu/back%20issues/months/2011%20August.htm

Zelimir Gabelica - post to the Met-List: posted on - Thu, 21 Apr 2011 03:17:57 - .
[meteorite-list] Ensisheim 2011 info - important information!
ENSISHEIM "METEORITE 2011" NEWS (April 21, 2011) -
Dear meteorite friends, My recent relative silence on the mail is the result of ...
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2011-April/075951.html

Meteoryty [4338] - Meteorytyka - ENSISHEIM Meteorite Show 2011:
An excellent website (in Polish) with a great gallery of images from the Show.
"Postanowili?my równie? w tym roku pojawi? si? na targach w Ensisheim."
"Kontakt: Jestem cz?onkiem - Polskiego Towarzystwa - Meteorytowego - Je?li masz jakie? pytania: meteoryty@tuzobok.pl"
poniedzia?ek 20 Czerwiec 2011 - Opublikowane w Aktualno?ci - Zostaw komentarz
Copyright © 2010-2011 Meteoryty [4338]
http://www.tuzobok.pl/?p=1805

Mirko Graul - Meteorites: Images from Ensisheim 2011 —
The link to Mirko Graul's personal image gallery for :
Internationale Meteoritenbörse Ensisheim - France - Ensisheim Meteoriten Show 2011
http://www.meteorite-mirko.de/0334af993b0042c09/index.php

Click here to go to "Bob's Findings Article for July 2011 - Gallery of Images" to see more images from Ensisheim Meteorite 2011.

To go back to the top of this page, click on the word "REFERENCES:" for the list of links pertaining to the 2011 Ensisheim Meteorite Show.

My previous articles can be found *HERE*

For for more information, please contact me by email: Bolide*chasseur