I shook hands with Barack Obama

Yesterday I went to the Tiergarten for Obama's speech. I got there around 1:30 or 2 (gates opened at 4, speech was scheduled for 7!). There was already a bit of crowd. When they opened the gates everyone literally ran to to and be in the front row, which was very very annoying. I managed to get basically in the front - and I think if I hadn't I would never had made it. Once we got in the gates we had a three hour wait, we tried to sit but people were cramming in there so tight and were not being very respectful. I tried to go to the bathroom and people literally said to my face they wouldn't move so I could walk by. I thought about telling them I could just go right there...but I decided against it. I still wasn't very nice though.

That being said, it was worth the wait and I am so glad I did it. I shook his hand when he came by and he talked to some of the Kenyan's standing next to me. My feet have not fully recovered and I don't have very good pictures. I was told by people with the campaign that we could not bring bags, SLR cameras etc. (only to find out when I got there that this wasn't remotely true *&#$!) so I went and got a point and shoot for the event, had no idea how to use it or adjust the settings, and the battery wasn't fully charged to boot. So, as Obama was standing with his back to the very bright setting sun, my pictures didn't really work so good (and my camera died right when he started his speech grr). I did manage to get a little video of him walking out and one or two shots of the crowd. I took some other pics with my friends camera (she took alot as well, but sadly, being even shorter than me - if you can believe it -she was getting quite squished. It was like being in a mosh pit). I don't have those ones yet so here are few to tide you over. I will post more about it later when I have the good pictures :)

The Press











A German dude that was happy to pose with his flag for every photojournalist there.