The Inaugural Concert

Mardy, Chizu, Janice and Takemi heading down 14th Street to the Inaugural Concert.

Janice points out the sites!

Street vendor.

Protesters.

Getting closer! I can hear the music...

So close, yet so far away: The concert's over there!
We could hear it, but the gate was closed.

We could hear, "American Pie," but the Reflecting Pool was already full.

Guess we should have got down here earlier!

The Button Man. There's so much going on in this photo!

At the concert. So to speak...

U2 on the JumboTron!

Getting the shot!

Obama watches...

Takemi, Mardy and Chizu at the White House!

Amazing! It was like watching water flowing past the Washington Monument;

that's how many people were there!

Inauguration!

Here we are, heading up 14th Street at 7:30AM.!
Maureen, Ipung, Janice and Robert.

Going down 19th street towards the Mall.

Janice points out the World Bank to Ipung.

Either it's time to cut the bush shrubbery or... um...

Our location, right by the Washington Monument.

The crowd- packed. But we were all talking and joking with each other!

The new First Family. The crowd went crazy.
As though they could hear our mitten-muffled applause!

The crowd!

Taking the oath.

Keeping warm.

Of course, Ipung, from Bali, was not used to the cold.
He froze... and went home to warm up!

People from all over the world came. This was a World Stopper.

We were told, "This could only happen in America!" At first I thought this was the Texas flag.
It is the flag of Chile.

The Texas flag. Slight difference!

Janice looks for Ipung and Robert.

We were all forced out two or three exits. That meant a million folks all had to exit
out of these little "pinch points" on the Mall and then shuffle up
only a few designated streets.

Heading home up 19th St. 2 million people and only 5 arrests for disorderly conduct!

After the long day, which began at 6AM, we all relaxed to watch the Balls on TV.
Clockwise, from the bottom- Takemi, Mardy, Chizu, Robert, Janice and Maureen.