Obama family takes in Paris

Source: Agencies  |   2009-6-8  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

UNITED States President Barack Obama wrapped up his six-day overseas trip - which took him to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany and France - by spending a few hours as a tourist yesterday, seeing Paris with his wife and two young girls.

The trip included a speech to Muslims on Thursday and a trip to a Nazi concentration camp a day later. On Saturday, he marked the 65th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

Obama returned to Paris with wife Michelle on Saturday night. They stayed at the US ambassador's residence and spent time as tourists with their daughters.

The Obama family was up early on a cool and overcast Sunday morning to visit the Pompidou Center, the famous modern art museum constructed of color-coded ducts. The Obamas went to the top of the Pompidou Center, which has one of the best views of the whole city. Crowds lined the streets in patches, with gawkers taking pictures of the motorcade.

The whirlwind tour of Paris began early Saturday evening at the 12th century Notre Dame cathedral, where Obama lit a candle and listened to a children's choir. Thousands of tourists lined the streets.