inauguration mania--a little advice

I strongly recommend watching an event like this on tv, in the comfort of your own home!!! Unless you are seated directly in front or behind the presidential swearing in, you will not see much (maybe the stand and flags, and little itty bitty heads). Trust me, I went to one inaugration and given tickets in a decent standing section and still wasn't able to see much. The people that are on the mall can only possibly see it on the large tv screens. I'm glad I can say I did it once, but I would not recommend it to my friends even just for them to say they were there (lie if you want the to say it). I will never do it again, unless it's 70 degrees and sunny that day and a few days prior. It's usually cold and pretty muddy thanks to the mid-atlantic winter weather. Plus, you now have the joy of standing in security lines for a couple of hours. And that's before you take public transportation, in which you have to wait in lines to be packed in like sardines onto trains and buses. Walking is your best option, but be prepared to stand for hours, so wear very comfortable boots that you don't mind getting muddy. You should not even attempt to watch both the inaugration and parade (if you have tickets to the inaugration), chose one and stick with it. It's a huge pain to navigate the security and crowds to do this and you won't get a good view at all. This is why TV is your best viewing option, go to a bar or back to your hotel and watch the rest of the festivities if you have been standing for a few hours. I strongly recommend watching the entire thing on tv, and I do not just say that because I'm resident that been annoyed with the increase in tourists. I save those feelings for the hot, humid summer tourists, when the metro is super awesome! :cry:

 

I agree, Senator. Our Young Adult Group is getting together over pizza and beer to watch DVR of the ceremonies and speeches. Feet up, nice and warm, zipping through the dross on fast forward -- that's my kind of democracy.

Watching it live means standing on frozen DC streets and being able to see only somebody else's hat. And I'm 6'2". What you shorties do is beyond me.

 

Sheesh...the worst inauguration to date. I thought the last one was bad with security. So glad I didn't take any tickets, my pregnant butt would have gone mental if I had been waiting in line since 4 am and didn't get in.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17787.html

 

glad you and the missus got a memory of a lifetime, Dave.