We Touched History

When I woke up at 6:45 this morning, I turned CNN on, just to see that the National Mall seemed already full of people. I rushed out of the house at 7:20. Seeing that the Metros were impossibly sardined, I was very happy that I could walk from my house to the Mall in just a few minutes. I tried to get as close to the Capitol Building as I could, and halted near the Smithsonian Castle. By 9am the Mall was stuffed at capacity.

It was cold... and I say this even as a Canadian... it was cold! Too many people there were dressed improperly, and I ended up lobbying on behalf of a trembling kid without a jacket. We found him a blanket to wrap around himself. I then lead him and his friends into exercises, since sitting on the ground shivering was not going to warm them up. Everyone near us were helpful, and in no time, the kid had a jacket, a scarf, gloves, and his friends were also warmer in strangers' clothes. I felt very touched by that, nobody ignored these kids, but sought to help.

When the dignitaries started to show up on screen, the crowd's mood was very clear. Anybody with the surname Bush was received very coldly, even with boos. When Bush Jr. came out, I saw a few people waving shoes in the direction of the Capitol. The elation was deafening when Obama arrived. Hillary Clinton also got a rousing ovation.

After President Obama stumbled through his oath, all 2 million spectators erupted. So many tears, so many hugs, and so many cheers. I have to say I was a bit emotional myself. Strangely enough, as soon as Obama was declared president, I felt a sort of weight lift off of the world. Bush was not there anymore, the world felt lighter. I don't know if Bush realizes that the euphoria surrounding this inauguration is not only because of the new president, but because of the relief at knowing that the 43rd president is now away from the commands, and the world's destiny is not under his control anymore...

Getting off the Mall was difficult. The crowds were funnelled through very narrow gates, and had to give way to emergency traffic once in a while. In many parts of the world, the tightness of the movement, and the constant interruptions might have lead to panic, trampling and stampedes. Today in Washington, every one around me was calm, cooperative, helpful, and nobody complained. It took nearly one hour to cover a distance I usually cover in 15 minutes, but everyone was safe, nobody got hurt, and nobody yelled or pushed. I find that amazing.

So, Obama is now walking down Pennsylvania avenue, but I am not attending the parade. I am home, resting my very tired legs. Let's hope now that the euphoria of the last few days carries us all towards more positive, constructive and happy times. - Gaston

The Eve

Lars and I went walking all over DC this evening. We swam through crowds nearly all the way, a very unusual situation for Washington. Everywhere we went, the energy was high. Restaurants were packed, sidewalks full, and peppered in the crowds were tuxedos and ball gowns rushing to one of the dozens of pre-inauguration balls going on around town.

On the U Street corridor, a vibrant DC neighborhood mostly populated by African-Americans, there were parties on many corners, with music and dancing. The biggest crowds were stacked in front of Ben's Chili Bowl, where Obama went to have a chili dog a few days ago. Everyone wants to try Obama's selection now...

I will now watch Jon Stewart, and go to bed soon. I have to get up early to make it to the Mall for inauguration morning!

Gaston

The Calm Before the Inauguration

Things I saw on today's morning walk:

1) A shivering CNN crew on the National Mall, with Soledad, Don and Roland. A few hundred people encircled them, trying to thrust their mug into the camera lens.

2) A few roofless double-decker tour buses, with parties under way on the second floor. As the buses drove down Pennsylvania Avenue, the passengers were loudly greeting the pedestrians, yelling "OBAMA!", and spreading cheer all along the tour route.

3) More media trucks, with satellite dishes, generators, etc., than I have ever seen in one place.

4) Thousands of people trying to get as close to the Capitol building as possible while they still can. Camera flashes popping non-stop, blinded all passing through.

5) A lot of motorcades, with police escorts front and back, speeding through town. Was Obama in any of them? I couldn't tell...

6) Police officers asking souvenir stand operators to get off the streets, since they don't hold permits. It's not hard finding Obama paraphernalia now, since at every 10 feet someone is trying to peddle some inaugural merchandise.

7) Long line-ups at all national museums. People are especially patient when they feel happy.

Everyone is energized, antsy for tomorrow historic inauguration. I'll be there too...

Gaston

The Party is on!

Already yesterday, Saturday, we were starting to feel that DC was filling up. With every flight coming into DC's airports, more revelers were arriving to elevate the city's mood. It's hard to describe, but there is such energy and positivism all around. I've never seen so many happy people in one place. And when I say many, this is no joke, a couple million of them!

This morning I headed for the Mall at 8:30am. Most streets leading there were closed, and lined with hundreds of smiling volunteers. Every one, nearly without exception, greeted the passer-bys with a wide-eyed "Good Morning!" Army tanks were blocking the road, police sirens were silently spinning, and people in uniform patrolled ever corner, but there wasn't a frown in sight. Security was tight, but efficient, polite and incredibly unobtrusive. By the time I reached the Mall at about 9am, more than 10 000 people for sure were already there. The party had started even before any artist hit the stage, with chanting, singing, dancing and a lot of clicking cameras.

It was quite a sight to see the throngs pouring in constantly. I kept thinking that space would eventually run out, but still, I was never crowded. ... and... I never had to wait in line to use one of the infamous 5000 port-a-potties. Soon after Lars showed up at 12:30, all we could see on the Mall, all the way from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument, were hundreds of thousands of tightly packed people wrapped in colorful winter gear.

From 2:30pm t0 4:30pm, famous artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, Shakira, and countless others kept the spectators singing and dancing. A few more solemn songs dampened the mood once in a while, but everyone was in top form when Obama took the stage to say a few short words.

CNN estimated today's crowd at 500 000... 2 million are expected on Tuesday! I'll have to get up very early again!

Stock up!

(photo from the Internet)
Obama will most likely not have to do his own groceries and cooking this week-end, but the rest of us will. With millions of people about to descend on Washington DC for his inauguration, we have to plan our food ahead of time. Restaurants will be packed, take-out might not be an efficient option, and who knows what will be left in stores. Someone told me: "We have to stock up on canned food and water!" Well, geez, this is not a hurricane, nor is it the Apocalypse... I think we can still rely on water coming out of the taps and fresh food should keep in the fridge. The inauguration will not level the city to the ground after all.

I went to my neighborhood supermarket today, Trader Joe's, and the largest crowds I have ever seen on a weekday afternoon was piling in. It felt like a Sunday after brunch, usually the worst time to go to Trader Joe's. Carts were banging against each other, some shelves were already empty and people lined up for 15 minutes to get to the cash registers. The regular weekday afternoon crowd is mostly composed of students and grannies, but this time, these were working age adults, seemingly taking time off on a Thursday to do groceries.

So, we have enough food to last us through the inauguration now... at least that part of the scenario is under control. - Gaston

The Beehive

Beehive - that is the only word I can think of to describe the activity in Washington DC at the moment. Everything is buzzing. Buzzing drills and saws, buzzing cranes and engines, buzzing cell phones and cameras, and tourists buzzing with excitement. At the US Capitol, the chairs are all out, the stand is ready, the flags are hung. I will not be able to get this close on inauguration day, so, better get my pictures now! Many other locals and visitors were standing by the Capitol, posing for pictures, of pausing in awe and the immensity of the inaugural stand.

By the way - concerning yesterday's post on the port-a-potties. On the news last night, they said that there are 5000 toilets on the National Mall, and experts are predicting it will not be enough. All of DC is flabbergasted at the number of port-a-potties... that seems to be all everyone talks about.

Remember a few posts ago I poked fun at all the Obama products out there, well, I found the jack-pot! It is called the "Inauguration Superstore", and they are not exaggerating! A wide storage space, with white walls and buzzing fluorescent lights, 10 cash registers, and filled to the gills with Obama merchandise: www.inaugurationsuperstore.com . They sell, of course, the regular Obama T-shirts, but also Obama hats, teddy-bears, cups, towels, scarves, key-chains, etc. etc. I particularly like the Democratic-Donkey-with-an-afro shirt. The T-shirt with Barack Obama in the Matrix is quite clever, I thought. Anyway, with all of the people coming to DC this week, souvenir shops stand to make a nice profit! - Gaston

Almost There!

I'm happy to be back in DC after freezing and treading through snow in Canada all of last week. Happy to be in DC, especially at this time, as the city prepares for Obama's inauguration next Tuesday. The whole thing will kick off with a big concert Sunday night in front of the Lincoln memorial, for which the stage is now being built.


But the most marking new additions to the National Mall right now are the endless lines of portable toilets, snaking all over the area. I have never seen so many loos in my life, but I am certain there still will be lines on that most historic day. On the news, they are now predicting that this might be the largest crowd ever assembled in history. We'll see if the predictions pan out, but, one way or the other, you can't ever have too many potties!

Gaston

Lemme See!

Elyse and Leonie, my afternoon companions today at the hockey arena in Boucherville, Quebec. Every click of the camera was followed by a chorus of: "J'veux voir! J'veux voir!" ("Lemme see! Lemme see!")

Obama in the House (but not the White one yet)

President No. 44 has arrived in DC, and the city will possibly never be the same again. We walked by the Hays Hotel yesterday, where the Obamas are staying while the Bushes are packing. The sidewalk was already crowded with the curious, waiting, hoping to get a peak of the next first family.

The top news items on TV today were about Sasha and Malia's first day at their new Washington school. I'm sure they won't have trouble fitting in. I went to the bookstore today, and from every magazine and newspaper rack, Barack and Michelle, hundreds of them, were staring back at me. Nearly half of all magazines featured at least one of the Obamas on the cover. I bought the Washingtonian, to see if it will provide good inauguration day tips.

The souvenir shops have increased their selection of Obama paraphernalia as well, so that the million who will be arriving in 2 weeks can all take a piece of this historical event back home with them. Just now, a motorcade with blaring sirens sped by my window. My first reaction was: "Well, I guess Obama is on the move again". I live on Pennsylvania avenue after all.


Gaston

Happy Grand Canyon

Happy 2009! Here is a pic of where Lars and I welcomed the new year, on the side of the Grand Canyon. As you can see there was snow, about one foot on the ground. We were astounded to see that along nearly all of the rim of the chasm's vertical cliffs, there were no barriers. It was icy, and very dangerous, and we had to be very careful walking on the trails, not to slip down to a vertiginous death. We were planning to do a lot of hiking while we were there, but, we had to cut back on those plans, since we just did not have the necessary equipment for dealing with steep slippery trails. But even with all the snow and ice, it was an awesome site. Pictures can't do justice to the majesty of the place.

Gaston