I sat in my hostel for 7 hours straight, (no potty breaks!) watching Barack Hussein Obama on CNN International become the 44th President of the United States of America.

There were a few other Americans here, and we had a toast when Obama officially became President and we actually stood up for the Pledge of Allegiance.

But what would President Obama say today:

Yesterday we celebrated. But now back to work.

Yes Mr. President, I hear you….I’m getting back to “work”….

Phillip the tour guide offered another tour later on that night in the Montmarte section of Paris. This tour was only about 15 people so it was much more manageable for Phillip and didn’t require him to yell as much. We met at the real Moulin Rouge, the one the movie and play are based on. This tour was 10 Euros ($13US) and lasted about 2 1/2 hours.

Basilica Sacre Couer (Sacred Heart) – This church has one of the best views of Paris

One of the few last windmills in Paris. It does not work anymore but still a pretty sight in a metropolitan city

Lapin Agile, the cafe where Picasso, as a starving artist, traded paintings for food from the owner. When Picasso became famous, the owner was able to retire very rich, because he had a huge collection of Picasso paintings.

A full list of sights on the Montmarte Tour is here

You see sights and take pictures, but you really don’t start to FEEL them until you understand their interesting stories and circumstances that bring them into prominence. That why when I go back to London I’ll take the Free Tour, even though I’ve seen most of the sights on my own already.

Again great fun. Afterward the Phillip buys everyone on tour a drink…and I was the only one who took him up on it. So he and I had sat in a cafe, drank a beer and traded travel stories. I can do that now!

Down a side street in Montmarte

What Barack Obama Told Me to Do is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel

The excitement is palatable here in Tokyo. To a lesser extent among the Japanese I’ve met (I think they are more reserved) but the Europeans and the Australians were all excited watching the election results Wednesday morning our time.

Non Americans all share the same sense of hope that Obama brings. Some of the things noted were the same things Americans thought about the election:

“I never thought Barack Hussein Obama would be elected”
“McCain is too old”
“America will change now”

I wish I was in New York, but I am glad I am out of the country to see a different perspective on things. And with cable, satellite and the Internet, I’m right on top of the news.

Change is good!

Agent of Change is a post from: NoDebtWorldTravel