Quick report from BERLIN (live) from 48percenter

[Eurobabe]

Having computer problems, there were more than 200K people there. We were 30 to 40 ft. from podium. Pictures tomorrow from me when I get back home.

It was really awesome though, to be in the crowd, and see him LIVE in front of such an international audience. We also saw him at lunchtime when he headed into the Hotel Adlon to have lunch with (?) Merkel.

[myrna minx]

1. I can't wait to see your photos. Sounds like an incredible experience. n/t

:hi:

[gblady]

2. looking forward....

to your report and pics!

[LynneSin]

3. I look at the pictures coming thru now and I can't stop crying

He is the JFK for my generation - he has the connection to the people that unfortunately Gore & Kerry sometimes did not have. I am so excited about this race.

And it's not just Germany. I live in downtown Wilmington and as I drive thru the neighborhoods I see the Obama signs and the Obama T-shirts. The people are speaking and it's Obama they want. Let's just hope our voices are heard in November

[Eurobabe]

4. It was a really incredible experience, that audience was very polite

and attentive. I just hope my pictures turn out, we had a telepromter in front of us, and the sun was setting. Could make for disappointing photos, and I shot alot! :mad:

[bdamomma]

38. we just have to make sure our voices and votes are heard

in November, this is our country.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Woohoo! Sounds like a great adventure. :^D

[MissHoneychurch]

6. We think the person in the circle is our own 48percenter

:D

[intheflow]

20. I can totally see the resemblance!

(As if I know what 48%er looks like! :P)

But where are you in the photo? And did you take lots of pictures too?

[MissHoneychurch]

22. You see the lady in the red shirt

that stands a little bit in front of the circle? That might be me :shrug:

What I KNOW is, that we are somewhere in that area in that crowd.

I took a bunch of pics too. Tried to upload them here in the Internet café but it didn't work out. So you have to wait till tomorrow.

[intheflow]

28. You mean the person with a camera blocking her face?

Naw, that couldn't be you. :P This waiting until tomorrow for both of you to post the photos is gonna kill me!

[gateley]

7. I can only imagine what it must have been like to actually be a participant

to that historic moment!

[Eurobabe]

12. gateley, it was truly historic

both times we were less than 40ft. away from him. :D I sure hope my pics turn out! We got there right at 4pm, and they made everyone go thru security and swept us with wands, security was very tight. The Germans did it up right, efficient as usual. We were about 30 40 ft. from podium, but the sun was blinding us. I guess there is a reason the press box was off to our right. GRRR.

What an atmosphere, it was electric.

[gateley]

24. I am so glad you were PART of it! nt

[hedgehog]

8. I'm wondering how many people in the crowd were Germans

and how many were ex-pats.

I figure the crowd was mostly locals.

[MissHoneychurch]

10. Most were Germans

but there also were Americans, Africans, French, Italians, Spanish, Dutch ..... I think there were people from all over Europe.

[bdamomma]

39. Obama relates to everyone, thank god.

[Eurobabe]

15. there were quite a few Americans there, most were just lucky

enough to be on vacation or business. There were people from many different countries from all over the globe. It was a real international crowd.

[ulysses]

9. happy to be #5.

Thanks for the report!

[MBS]

11. video is now up on CSPAN website

www.cspan.org

Boy, are you lucky to have been there! and only 30 feet away!
Can't wait for the photos

[intheflow]

21. The whole world must be watching the video.

I can't get the page up. :(

Well, something to look forward to watching when I get home from work tonight. :)

[Hope And Change]

13. Thanks 48percenter for sharing your story.Looking forward to see your pics tomorrow.

[jhain]

14. woooooooo hoooooooooooooo

just plain

WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Eurobabe]

16. jhain!!! it was so awesome, I can't describe

I think it is just hitting me. My dogs are barking big time from walking to get to the event, but it was worth it, to be so close to him. I only wish we were closer, after the speech he came off the stage and went down into the front crowd area. We were too far back.

[Blue_Tires]

17. how did you get so close to the podium?

[MissHoneychurch]

18. The gates opened at 4pm

we were there a little bit after.

[intheflow]

19. I'm so jealous!

You got to see Obama and MissHoneychurch! But I'll lay my jealousy and wait anxiously for your photos. I'm sure they'll be awesome. If you took a lot of shots, you're bound to have at least a handful come out. I assume MissHoneychurch was also snapping next to you?

[Eurobabe]

23. Yes, but we were in a dreadful location

the sun was setting and the right teleprompter was in front of his face, our zone groaned when he came out, if we had only known earlier we could have moved over to the left and closer up front, we would have seen him when he came down to the front rows. :cry: Oh well, it was cool to be there all day, with MHC. :D We had a blast!

[intheflow]

27. Are you actually admitting on DU

that you weren't very far on the left?! :silly:

Yeah, you can speculate and downplay any photos you might have taken, but I'll reserve my judgement until I see what you post tomorrow. I'm sure even you will be surprised at the results.

[WheelWalker]

32. I think she's only saying that she could have been further to the left..closer to the lunatic fringe

[Eurobabe]

37. Blech, they ALL suck. We literally had DIRECT sun

into our lenses. My Canon couldn't handle it, even with a shade over the MOAL (mother of all lenses 70-200). :nuke:

Actually I got two okay Obama pics with my Sony CyberShot, the rest of my attemps to capture him were not fruitful at all. :(

[intheflow]

41. Noooooooooo!

:cry:




You know what I tell myself when my photos don't come out/I'm some place extraordinary and don't have a camera. Sometimes the only pictures we're meant to keep are memories in our head. And that's okay. :)

[Eurobabe]

42. I resigned myself to that fact while the sun was blinding me

the universe was telling me to pay attention. So many times I am busy snapping that the event itself becomes a blur, and I then regret not having listened to what was said.

That was a Be.Here.Now moment. For sure. :hi:

[ChiciB1]

25. I Myself Was Impressed... So Why Is OUR Media Doing It Again???

All I've been hearing from MSM is how CLOSE the race is! They talk of the "pictures" and how great they look, but then hype the fact that McCain is closing in!

I have just recently started blogging again these past few days and I'm "pissed" already! And yes, I know the polls were taken BEFORE the trip, but I find it SICKENING just listening again! Words fail me!

Perhaps I need to go back to my cave because this is once again "bothering" me and raising my ire! I am a fierce supporter of John Edwards and have said in the past that I will vote for Obama if it's close and I KNOW "most" here find my decision UN-Democratic. Living in Florida has made into an "agnostic" activist especially given the "county" I live in.

JMHO, so don't get too rattled.

[PatSeg]

26. How exciting!

We were all waiting for your up close and personal report.

You got to witness a truly historic moment. Too bad much of the MSM doesn't get it yet.

[underpants]

29. A couple of pics already

[graywarrior]

30. You are so so lucky!

Can't wait to see those photos

[Hardrada]

31. We alas booked our trip before we knew Obama was

going to be there. We left Berlin a day before he arrived and we detected enthusiasm for Obama's visit in the city while we were there. And all the advance press coverage too. Our hotel had free newspapers and they all featured Obama on the front page or in editorials.

[Cha]

33. YAY...you made it! We could feel the

Awesomeness of it all:bounce: :patriot: :kick: :party:

[AtomicKitten]

34. Thanks for checking in.

Lucky!!! I hope photos will be forthcoming soon.

[IDemo]

35. Does 200k people sound correct?

Obama mentioned to Brian Williams that he was told the area would hold ½ million people. I didn't see any empty spaces in any of the pictures.

Not that it matters, 200 thousand is three packed football stadiums, and a ton of people. But I'm inclined to believe the number was closer to twice that.

[CitizenLeft]

36. can't wait to see your pics and get more detail!

:hi:

[bdamomma]

40. 48percenter

thanks for your report, sounds exciting and thank you and Miss Honeychurch for representing us DU'ers and as Americans.

[Eurobabe]

43. Hey alyce, I wrote a diary in Dkos

Here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/7/26/104313/586/20/557298

[GalleryGod]

44. Good Job,D!

Always indebted to you and MHC for the "on the ground from Berlin" reports!:toast: