KEY POINTS:
Washington had its business suit back on yesterday as the city's workers and its star resident floated back to reality.
Reminders of the inaugural celebrations were still around with out-of-towners rolling their cases, clutching souvenir editions of the Washington Post and hailing taxis.
The major job of cleaning
up was under way in the Mall and outside the White House where the solid box, adorned with presidential seal, from which President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle watched the inaugural parade was being taken apart. The bullet-proof panes were being stripped out of the stand which took a couple of months to construct.
The inauguration was still the stuff of snatched conversations. A few tourists wandered around taking snaps and some managed to catch the presidential motorcade hare down Pennsylvania Avenue.
A bicycling policeman yelled at pedestrians to "stay on the sidewalk!" and then seven sidecar-strapped police bikes swung into view, leading a convoy of about 20 more vehicles, including the black Cadillac with the United States flag rippling in its wind.
Despite the momentary thrill, Obama wouldn't have been inside.
CNN reported he began his first day in office at 8.35am and spent the first 10 minutes in the Oval Office alone, reading a note from former President George W. Bush left for him entitled "To #44, From #43".
Obama phoned Middle East leaders and then went to the National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral. The New York Times reported that Vice-President Joe Biden, former President Bill Clinton and newly confirmed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were also in the front pew. The motorcade was probably on its way to pick him up.
CNN reported that Obama was to meet his economic team and then military officials at the Pentagon, including General David Petraeus who oversees the Iraq and Afghan commitments. Obama has previously said he wants to get the Iraqi withdrawal in train. He has halted prosecutions of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay for 120 days while the military commissions are being reviewed.
After the party, Obama revealed a sober approach to running his new administration. The New York Times reported that he was ordering a salary freeze for his senior staff and tightening rules on lobbyists. "Families are tightening their belts and so should Washington."
And for people returning home after the inauguration, the Washington Post had bad news. The area's airports had buckled under the strain causing delays and missed flights.
