Denver /Fort Collins

In July 2012 I had the pleasure to travel to FORT COLLINS in Colorado...I flew with Emirates direct from Durban to Dubai and then onto Seattle, within a few hours I was on my way again to Denver and then had a road trip to FORT COLLINS. Emirates Airlines is a great airline with efficient staff both on the ground and in the air ...their flights were full and yet the level of service was of a high standard...

My first impression of USA airports – is that they are bigger and better in the USA...the security is of a high standard and it takes time to pass through all the channels. But the airports are well sign posted and you will easily find someone to assist should you be unsure of where you should go etc.

Seattle I saw mostly from the air, a beautiful city on a bay, and because it is summer there I did not except to see so much snow still on the mountains around Seattle, it made some beautiful pictures...

Arriving in Denver was another great experience - again well signed instructions get you where you need to be, on arrival one of my suitcases did not make it, but no problem they had put it onto the next flight and would deliver it to me in Fort Collins ...and they did the next morning at 05:30 sharp!

Fort Collins is about an hour away from Denver; it has a very similar landscape to what we have in the Midlands, along with a similar weather pattern, warm dry summers and cold winters, with the odd afternoon shower. There is much to do in Fort Collins, it is like visiting the beautiful Este Park in the mountains nearby, where they have a old fashion little town with all the shops you can think of that they would had about 60 years ago. They have kept the small town image ... you can go up further into the mountains by cable car and have a magnificent view over the Colorado state...they have a large amount of snow during their winter months which make skiing there a pleasure. On the way up to the Park you pass many cabins that people use during the summer holidays where they enjoy hiking, trout fishing and in the winter months skiing.

In Fort Collins there is a big University, with beautiful campus grounds that flows into the old town, during the time the University in the town is flooded with students and during the long summer months it seems that the town is empty because all the students are away on their holiday.

The town has many restaurants to offer – there are over 300 restaurants in the old town area ranging from fast foods, Mexican, Chinese etc. You have to try the ice cream, in one of the many ice cream parlours – they are to die for!

There are two big BUDWEISER plants in the area around Fort Collins and they offer tours through the plant to show how the beer is made...and you get a free tasting at the end!

I did not spend time in Denver, but made use of the Quilitay Inn Suites at Denver Airport, it is well appointed with a free shuttle to and from the airport. There are a few restaurants around the hotel for a quick bite. My overnight stop in Dubai was at the Millinium Emirates Hotel. It was a good experience for a STPC stop over. Dubai Terminal 3 is huge...you will walk for miles - I thought of ordering wheelchair assistance! They can cope with the masses that come through that Terminal without any problems. I am now safely back in sunny South Africa! Nothing like home sweet home!