Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference and
Learning Summit in Denver (July, 7-13 2007)


This year the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference 2007 was held in Denver, Colorado.
Denver surely isn't the most sparkling city I've seen, but it's surroundings are -as this report will show- truly worth to pay a visit. All you need is a car and preferably some good company.		  


Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
1: on our way to the park
The day after I arrived in Denver I joined the Dutch Microsoft team on a daytrip
to the Rocky Mountain National Park		 2: The Stanley hotel
After driving North for about an hour we had a brunch at the The Stanley hotel.
The Stanley hotel inspired Stephen King's novel "The Shining"
3: Make some noise
 All set to explorer the Rocky Mountain National Park!		 4: Bear lake
Our first stop at the park: Bear Lake
5: Eylard, Sandra
In the background: Sandra (RPMcar, also board member of the IAMCP) and the Rockies		 6: Rockies
 


Garden of Gods, Colorado Springs

7: 4-photo panorama
Thomas & Henk (both from Info Support) and I rented a car and spend our day between some of the natural wonders of Colorado.
One hour South from Denver, six miles West of Colorado Springs are some giant red rock formations better know as the "Garden of the Gods". Can you spot the "kissing camels"?
8: Garden of the Gods (1)
The Garden of the Gods is a public park...		 9: Garden of the Gods (2)
...it contains conglomerate sandstone hogback formations...
 10: Garden of the Gods (3)
...climbing is allowed for those who have a permit


Royal Gorge bridge and park, Cañon City
11: Royal Gorge (1)
Another hour further South is the Royal Gorge bridge park...
 12: Royal Gorge (2)
...where the world's steepest incline railway...
 13: Royal Gorge (3)
...brings you to the bottom of the gorge...
14: 2-photo panorama
...from where you can view another world record: the highest suspension bridge. Note the visible space between the planks in the deck.
15: Royal Gorge (4)
This is me, looking down 321 meters to where we stood a while ago		 16: Royal Gorge (5)
The Arkansas river as seen from the brige. Note the incline railway station at the bottom
17: Royal Gorge (6)
No fishing from the bridge ;-)
In the back yet another world record: the longest single-span aerial tram...		 18: Royal Gorge (7)
...which gives you a breathtaking view of the area
 


Worldwide Partner Conference in the Colorado Convention Center, Denver
19: Big Blue Bear, aka “I See What You Mean”
A big blue bear is looking into the Colorado Convention Center!		 20: 3 Generations of PAM
Three generations of Partner Account Managers: Wim, Tjeerd and Rob
21: Steve
Steve Ballmer at the Worldwide Partner Conference opening keynote		 22: Microsoft Surface
One of the many cool demos of "Microsoft Surface": listening and exchanging music


Dutch party at the Shadows Ranch, Georgetown, Colorado
23: Ranch party (1) 24: Ranch party (2) 25: Ranch party (3)


Partner celebration at the Coors field, Denver
26: EB Fraley band (1)
Three years in a row: the EB Fraley band has become the "other" face of the WPC		 27: EB Fraley band (2)
This year with guest performance
28: Bjorn Again (1)
 
 29: Bjorn Again (2)
Bjorn Again: tribute to ABBA
 30: Bjorn Again (3)
31: Elevation (1)
Premier U2 tribute band "Elevation"		 32: Elevation (2)
33: Eylard, Allison
The face of the WPC: Allison Watson, Corporate Vice President of the
Worldwide Partner Group		 34: Celebration closedown
The last few to leave the Coors field:
Judith (NewLevel), Wim (MS), Eylard (Compu'Train) and Rob (MS)
35: Dutch Learning Solutions partners 
Henk (Info Support), Marcel (Twice), Thomas (Info Support), me (barely visible),
Jasper (Master IT), Rick (BVO), Arjen (Master IT), Vincent (Twice), Frank (Global Knowledge)		 36: Oceanaire seafood restaurant (just across the street of hotel Teatro)
A brownie for desert? I hate to say it but this is way too much for me!
 
 

Photo 6: Serina, 17-18: Henk, 20, 23-25, 29, 33-41: Wim
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