So it's been a little over one month since the inauguration and as politics often makes happen, the ground has moved beneath our feet.
How did we do this?
We did it....
Join me over the fold for more eye candy of that memorable day.
Getting off the bus after our almost 6 hour trip from New Haven, CT to Washington D.C.(RFK Stadium). Departure time: 2AM, Arrival time: 7:30AM.
More busses unloading their human cargo.
I dislike having to relate these next pictures to a "pilgrimage", seeing how the right (and truly, only the right) enjoy making Obama out to be the messiah. Yet, pilgrimage it is. This is a picture of the first line we got to stand in. Vendors to the left, security on the right. All over the place were national guardsmen.
That first line seperates into numerous 'smaller' lines. I'd have to guess that from RFK stadium there had to be at least 30 constantly running shuttle busses all morning.
We had to pass under this bridge to get to the shuttle bus lines.
It took about 3 bus loads until we were able to get onto the shuttle, not long at all. Everything was fairly well organized (my condolences to the tunnel of doom prison camp).
Thats my friend whom I made the trip to DC with. He's in the brown carhart jacket. He's not a big politics fan, gets most of his info from me, yet we had a great time.
Ok guys&gals! Time to get on the bus!
Ok, so I'm not trying to throw in any corporate shoutouts but with only 5 hours of sleep, the traffic jammed 1hour+ drive to the shuttle drop off point, and STILL no caffeine in me, this "TOGETHER" advertisement seemed to really match the mood of the crowd. I guess [insert carbonated beverage name here] can claim mission accomplished.
Here's the approximate spot where shuttle busses dropped off inauguration goers. Shuttles didn't even get off the beltway, just pulled onto the shoulder and let people walk up the embankment off the highway and onto a city street.
Maybe these picture will make plain why "pilgrimage" is a suitable word.
Here you can see a shuttle bus letting people off from the highway shoulder.
Looks like we have another bridge to pass under.
Getting closer.
Shared body heat under a bridge rules.
"Hmmm, I wonder if it looks like a lot of people are here just because they're all surrounding me".....Taking a picture of the view behind me you can see the line is never ending.
My friend realizing his camera is about to die.
Another picture of my friend, Matt.
Picture of the Hollocaust Memorial Museum. I wish I had time to check it out.
And here is the one semi-good picture of me from the whole day.
Is that a monument or is the Capitol just happy to see me?
See that neverending line of porta-potties back there? Potty parity problems, my a$$.
Not only that, but porta-potties double as seats. Who'da-thunk it?
People were coming onto the National Mall from EVERY direction.
some dragoons.
I just really liked this building. Couldn't tell you what it is.
More monumental occasions.
If you thought it was crowded in the previous pictures you've seen nothing yet. There were barricades seperating Independence Ave and the National Mall. Even though there was security telling people to continue down Independence to reach an opening onto the mall that was not yet over crowded people chose not to listen and just jump the barricade, thinking they could get closer that way. Unfortunately, we followed the herd.
We tried to weave through the crowd to get a better spot but eventually we got stuck in neutral. The crowd moved like a glacier.
A warm glacier.
Really is amazing what shared body heat can accomplish.
I guess I forgot to reserve tickets for the mezzanine.
You can see the CNN guy rolling tape on top of the Visitor Center 'hut'. He really got the crowd going. You can also see one of the jumbotrons to the left.
More National Guard, Secret Service.
Curious as to what they were doing a minute before I snapped this picture? Well of course, they were posing for their own pictures. Hell, If I had their view I'd be doing the same thing.
The Inauguration speech is over and the National Mall clears out.
That big line of blueness in the background there is another queue of porta-potties. Worked quite well as a fence too.
The darkside of the monument.
Picture of my friend and I.
When the crowd cleared out it sure got cold quick.
And now the journey out of the city, and boy was it a journey. Coralled us like cats.
Can't remember who this statue is of.
Your friendly, neighborhood, protest.
there were only so many streets that led off the mall.
Many people decided to let the crowds die down before venturing out.
You'd be suprised how orderly and fast moving the crowds were.
Every square foot of walkable ground was filled with a person. Many people climbed on ledges to get a better view.
The city had busses parked, yet running, to let people get warm if need be.
Here we are getting stuck at a choke point.
Herded Cats, we are. After this picture we duck onto the metrorail.
Re-emerging from the subway and on our way back to our bus.
Well, that's it for my photo diary of the historic Inauguration of the 44th president of the United States. I hope you enjoyed it.