My first encounter with the Fate series was by-chance finding an image of a blonde female knight in shining armor and with a seemingly slurred sword-like object in her hands. Later I found a review of Fate Zero (by GRArkada) and it peaked my interest at the time. However it did not evolve into a spontaneous marathoning of the series as has been the case with other awesome anime in the past (Black Lagoon for example).
So it slipped out of my mind for the most part as I indulged in various other anime.
Having a strange sense of gravitation towards Fate Zero as it worked its way into my mind from time to time I decided that the moment had come for me to start picking up on my wish to watch the series.
After consulting multiple websites to determine if it would be more appropriate to watch the prequel Fate Zero or Fate Stay Night first I determined that I would watch Zero first, play the Stay Night visual novel, and then watch Stay Night.
After a short while into Fate/Zero I was hooked. Although not as action-heavy as Black Lagoon, this show had its way of producing enough intrigue to have me glued to the screen-the only thing preventing my cornea from making contact with the screen being my cup of bamboo sencha which became my favorite accompanying drink for watching Fate/Zero.
Having finished Fate/Zero I immediately began my quest to play the visual novel (a process which took me 35 hours of total gameplay to complete within a week). As I was expecting the first route had me satisfied and not wishing to play any of the following two, although the latter two routes are generally considered better. I just cannot cheat on the route I find satisfying (which is always the first one)-no matter the praise received by alternate routes.
So since I had given up on that, I started watching the anime adaptation and am now about halfway.

For some reason, the Fate franchise has captivated me immensely-more so than anything else I've ever watched.
I know one thing for sure-the Fate franchise is my #1 recommendation for anyone interested in anime. At least for the people who appreciate that a show is original, action-heavy, has an excellent and engaging plot, great characters, "animation budget big enough to buy Belgium... or something" (GRArkada-Fate/Zero Review), awesome music (see The Battle is to the Strong as an example), and a sense of maturity that is rare in anime nowadays. By mature I mean a show that is awesome and does not use unnecessary aspects to draw in an audience-basically it has no fan service (well, very little-see Gilgamesh scene at the end of Fate Zero...).
I am planning to enjoy the rest of Fate Stay Night as well as the other anime set in the Fate-verse to my hearts content ^^
If you have not yet seen any of the anime set in the Fate-verse then what have you been doing with your life?? Go watch Zero and Stay Night NOW!!
Also, Ufotable announced that they are making a film based on the third route of the VN. Stay Night is based on the Fate route, the additional film is based on Unlimited Bladeworks (2nd) route, and the third film that they announced will be based on the third route-Heaven's Feel. Can't wait!!

If anyone has had similar experiences with this or other anime (or manga), feel free to share your thoughts :)

Btw I have every intention of purchasing the 30cm (1 foot) tall special edition Saber figure with the re-release of Fate Stay Night in 2014 :P