Inauguration Day photos and some comments about the amazing day

[zulchzulu]

I've been in crowds... big crowds... Mardi Gras parades... huge concerts... but nothing can even compare to the number of people I saw this past Inauguration Day.

It started off at the Metro Orange Line where the station was closed and several hundred people were waiting to get in line to go down a couple escalator lanes. There wasn't really anything being announced by security other than that no one was going anywhere.

The lines kept forming and suddenly someone said another option was to take a bus that would go into town. The bus quickly filled with people as I figured it was at least some progress. I wouldn't be surprised if the train station I was waiting at never got anyone downtown (the Burston stop near Falls Church, VA). Once we got into DC, there were some extremely crowded yet operating Metro stations.



Once anyone got down to the Metro line, it was nothing but a controlled chaos with hundreds of people trying to pack into the trains or trying to get out of the station to begin the walk to where the action was.



Once we got out of the train at the Federal stop near the Capital, there were hints that it was going to be incredibly long lines of people. It was block after block after block of people of all races, creeds and ages with many in wheelchairs or with canes and crutches.

There seemed to literally be no end to the lines after walking block after block. We had Silver tickets, which were in the region near the wading pool and where the first Jumbotron on the left was located.



There were crowds coming from all directions and were, for the most part, very orderly.



After much trepidation, confusion and frustration, we eventually were making it into the security zone.



After people eventually got through security after being in the 20 degree cold for several hours, many cheered as they then tried to find a spot to see the Inaugural ceremonies.



Once finding a reasonable spot kind of near the Jumbotron, albeit having a couple trees blocking the view, it was just amazing to see how so many people were there. The closest audio speakers were at least several hundred yards away, so the festivities sounded like a massive echo chamber with voices and music bouncing off the buildings.

I did turn my back when Warren spoke, but it seemed like others just went ahead and listened to him. Although it sounded odd for some reason, Obama's swearing in and Roberts' failure to do his job swearing Obama in were not evident until we all made it to a bar on Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the parade.



I tried capturing the crowd size, but you really had to be there to see the massive turnout.



Every direction around me had what turned out to be a couple million people.



I was able to get some photos of the Jumbotron and some of the classic moments.



Fortunately the Jumbotron had subtitles because it was pretty difficult hearing what was happening clearly.



Reverend Lowery's closing statement in the Benediction was captured in subtitles.



Once the ceremony was done, people slowly started filing out and tried to make it home. It would take many hours before it wasn't just endless lines of people.



As the crowd was thinning out, I noticed a woman who was in bad health who was in a wheelchair. I talked to her and hugged her as best I could when she said she wouldn't miss seeing the Inauguration for the World.



As the Inauguration swearing-in ceremony ended, it was amazing not only watching a smooth and peaceful transition of power, but also seeing how so many people peacefully assembled to see history in the making.

Would I do it all again? Absolutely... just with better tickets and I'd stay in downtown DC and not commute in from Virginia!