Press plane touchdown in DC

A few final thoughts from a weary Washington correspondent -- apart from those awaiting you in tomorrow morning's edition, which features the full heft of the Star team's reportage and analysis on The Visit. Maybe they're all getting punchy after a day that began, what, 18 hours ago, but the Washington press corps still can't get over the fact that some people skate to work in Ottawa. "National Geographic should come do a documentary on it," said one. They also seem to be discounting Obama's mutual love-affair with Canada as a sort of been-there, done-that angle -- an expected follow-through on campaign promises to reach out to allies. America's afterglow, after all, has faded noticably in the month since the inauguration, and images of adulation abroad may be all well and good, but not so easy a sell to a home front anxious for Obama to deliver change they can feel. -- Mitch Potter

Livin' the cliche

So someone from CNN rolled in to the White House media filing centre in Ottawa with a beaver tail -- and now a bunch of White House staffers have run out to buy their own, with a bunch of reporters in tow. One local fry-shop has nicknamed their offering "Obama Tails" -- "What better way to honour our President," one U.S. reporter quipped. -- Mitch Potter

Now White House delivers

U.S. version of Obama-Harper transcript arrives, moments later. Posting the words now.
By the way, anyone notice Obama's tongue-slip off the top, starting to say "Iowa" before morphing to "Ottawa"? Somewhat surprising their weren't more given his campaign-style travel this week and last. -- Mitch Potter

Score one for the Canadians

Ottawa's press department just moved the first official transcript of today's joint Obama-Harper press conference; the Americans are still working on theirs. "The French might be slowing us down," a White House aide told The Star. -- Mitch Potter

Treats for Obama

Obama bought two Maple Leaf cookies at the Le Moulin de Provence bakery during his unscheduled stop in the ByWard Market. While he was there, BeaverTails employee Jessica Milien, 17, brought him an Obama tail, a version of the deep-fried patry coated with cinnamon and sugar and decorated with the letter O made with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and maple syrup.

-Joanna Smith

Obama and a $5 bill

Adnan Ustun, manager of OXXO Silk & Gift store in the ByWard Market, holds the $5 bill Obama used to buy a keychain for one of his daughters. He is also holding another one of the keychains, which has a moose on it.

-Joanna Smith

Souvenir shopping

After leaving Parliament Hill, the President made an unscehduled stop in Ottawa's Byward market, sparking pandemonium among the afternoon shoopers.
He stopped at the Oxxo Silk Market. He emerged with a keychain that he purchased with Canadian currency, telling Ann Compton, "I was looking for a key chain and a snow globe for my daughters." He said he was continuing a tradition started during the campaign, picking up memorobilia at every stop.
Shoppers crowded his every move, snapping pictures. Obama then said he was looking for a Beaver Tail, a famed local pastry. He entered Le Moulin de Provence and announced he wanted Canadian cookies. The baker, from the South of France, obliged with Maple Leaf cookies, according to the pool report provided by an American reporter accompanying the president.
"I figure I'd get some points from may daughters," Obama said. The baker refused his cash -- don't know if they were loonies. "It's for your daughters," he said. "It's not for you."
As he emerged from the market, a woman waited for him with the Beaver Tail. He took it, posed for some pictures, then ducked back into his limo.

Mad dash

Obama waved to the crowd again as he was leaving Parliament Hill. When everyone realized the motorcade was heading east, hundreds of people ran in that direction to see if they could see him again. The snow is ankle deep and rough terrain from thousands of footprints, so everyone was stumbling and giggling as they ran. Then when the motorcade disappeard around the corner, there was another stampede to Wellington St. People were cheering and waving as it crossed onto Elgin St. To head back to the airport. Then when the frenzy was over, all you could see were people checking their cameras to see if they had the shot they had been hoping for, still gasping for breath from the run through the snow and cold air.

-Joanna Smith

Future visit

U.S. President Barack Obama wrapped up a lengthy news conference with a pledge to return to Canada - when it's warmer. And with a broad smile he also thanked the Canadians who headed stateside to help with his election campaign.

News conference