Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Inauguration of President Hollande

Kathy and I were disappointed that the Pompidou was closed on Tuesday.  So we wandered down to L'Hotel de Ville.  A large crowd was gathering.  Incroyable, it was the inauguration of President Hollande.  A large crowd was gathered outside.  Inside, Hollande was giving a rousing speech about the special place of Paris in the Republic de France.  This was explained to me by a bystander in the crowd.  He said that all new Presidents were obligated to come and thank the people of Paris for their support.  As everyone knows, Paris is a special place.

I told my new friend that some Americans believed that Sarko was their only hope.  He said to me, "I was very against Sarko.  Next week Hollande will visit Obama.  I think they have very much in common."  

I told him that Angela Merkel - was their only hope now!

It was pretty fun.  Big crowd, lots of cheering, they sang the Marseille, waving flags.  It rained hard and the wind blew.  But just in time, the sun came out

We will post 2 videos on the blog ... in the first, Kathy demonstrates her tolerance for cold rainy weather (ne pas).  In the second, the President emerges to the People of France.  His wife has the white suit on.  He worked the crowd and jumped in the motorcade to the Palace.

I loved the African guy with the poster.  He was running all over.



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