FLIGHT (Day 1)

I arrived at the airport and enjoyed the uniqueness of the place.

Denver has been always been a convenient US flight hub due to its location in the middle of the continent. Denver International Airport (officially known as DEN, but we always refer to it at DIA) is the largest commercial airport in the western hemisphere by land area (with 52.4 square miles) and the second largest in the world. It needs extra long runways due to the lower air volume of being located at one mile above sea level. DIA opened in 1995 and replaced the older Stapleton International Airport, which had run out of space to expand.

DEN has one terminal (the Jeppesen Terminal, named after aviation pioneer Elrey Borge Jeppesen) and three midfield concourses (the farthest two require an underground train to get to). Its unique roof is built using a steel cable system which is covered with a fabric roof. It intended to resemble the snow-capped peaks of the nearby Rocky Mountains (to the west). It also recalls the land's early history when Native American teepees could be seen spread across adjoining the Great Plains (to the east).

Rosie the River Otter

The airport serves as the operating base for both Southwest and Frontier Airlines. When I fly, it's most often with one of them. This time.... Frontier. Since 1994, each Frontier airplane has its own animal. There are currently some 135 different ones.

A pedestrian bridge connects the terminal to Concourse A. It's high enough so that planes can taxi beneath it. ... The flight tower

Gorgeous flying weather!

Our take-off runway ... A bit of a back-up behind us

After being picked up at the Myrtle Beach Airport by family, we grabbed some dinner at the Backyard Sports Bar. We sat at a back table overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway as to enjoy the numerous passing boats.

The Barefoot Queen is a 70-foot authentic wooden riverboat.

Fried pickles!

After enjoying some live music downtown, we headed back to their place in North Myrtle Beach. They lived in an area frequented by interesting critters.

The American Bullfrog is the largest frog in North America, getting up to 8 inches long and weighing up to 1.5 pounds. Most frogs lose their tails when they become froglets (as they change from a tadpole to an adult frog). This usually happens at around 12 to 14 weeks old.... but apparently this big guy is hanging on to his a bit longer!

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