You might be wondering if indeed, as CNN tells you, people in other countries were really watching as closely to the inaugeration. What were they doing in the Netherlands? - I can hear you asking your computer screen.
I'll tell you what I know, and that's the scene in Amsterdam - THEY WERE WATCHING. Not only were they watching, they were gathering, at a quarter to 5pm CET I saw people rushing out of the grocery store, riding faster than normal towards their destination, and people flocking into bars and café's with their eyes fixed on the tv screens. Even at some squares, like down in the WTC business district where there are some outdoor screens, cyclists just pulled over and crowded around the bright blue light.
Being such an international place, a culture that greatly values travel , a country where many in the past immigrated to countries like the US and Canada, the significance of an Obama inaugeration was certainly felt here. And just like you may have heard, even over here.. they are excited and eager to see this happen.
A little more illustration, the video below is in Dutch, but the visuals say it all.. its the Obama Club of the Netherlands (yes that exists!) who threw a big party today, just outside the Hague. Enjoy: