Well Ron and I are finally home after a long day in Washington D.C. Winded, weary and slightly smelly but alive and thoroughly exhausted. We began the day after breakfast (by the way, craaaapppy breakfast at this hotel, continental deluxe my butt) by heading over to the Vienna metro station to buy our tickets for both today's activities and for the Big Day.
We got there around 10:30 and were shocked to see HUGE lines already just to purchase the tickets. (**side note, the camera was left at our hotel room today...I know....sigh...I know...we did make up for it by buying a disposable to capture all the happenings of this afternoon but still, ugh!) Anyway after about a 30 minute wait we got our tickets and boarded the metro train headed towards New Carollton (sp?) and amazingly we actually got a seat.
(One day if you get a chance please do ask me for a diatribe on the cleanliness and efficiency of the Washington D.C Metro System, I have many complimentary things to say...) After a pretty uneventful ride we popped out in the middle of the mall into a crowd of Obama supporters. I can only describe the atmosphere as incredibly festive, hopeful and truly joyful. People are excited, both to be in D.C for the inauguration but just to be with people who, at least for these few days, are of a like mind.
Ron made the comment this afternoon that the 'republicans are hiding' and frankly it seems to be true because its so hard to find anyone without an Obama pin, button, hat, bag, scarf etc. People are asking each other where they're from (our polling shows mostly Atlanta for some reason, although we met people from Alabama, Tennesee too), some folks are recording short interviews of other attendees (Ron and myself were interviewed) to show who those couldn't make it what it was like.
The other thing I love is that there are SOOOO many children here! Everywhere you look are these kids who will be watching what happens tomorrow with wide, learning eyes. It will forever change the way they view the world and I'm so happy their parents brought them!
And then... we went to the museum of American history. Which is a big ol new museum, however the crowds sort of put a damper on the trip. Ah well...I don't really feel like talking about it. Here... you can go to the website if you want more info: americanhistory.si.edu.
Celebrity Count - 3
So there are mountains of news and press people here, while we haven't yet seen the elusive Silver Fox (Anderson Cooper) we did spot Soledad O'Brian of CNN, Chris Mathews and Pat Buchanan from MSNBC. Tomorrow we will continue our Fox hunt and hopefully we will have a Cooper spotting to report.
So inconclusion, things are great here, people are happy and relaxed and just filled with hope and (dare I say it..) patriotism. That's all from the front...update on the BIG DAY tomorrow!
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