Obama In Ottawa, Makes Surprise Visit To Market (SLIDESHOW)

OTTAWA — President Barack Obama turned into a dutiful shopper Thursday, getting some maple-leaf shaped cookies for his two daughters in a surprise visit to an indoor market.

After leaving Parliament Hill, the president's motorcade stopped at the By Ward Market, a farmers' market in an historic section of Ottawa. Obama's arrival surprised and stunned shoppers, many of whom crowded around the new president, shook his hand and posed for photos.

Obama walked through aisles of vendors selling crafts, Chinese noodles and Indian food. He purchased a key chain and searched for a snow globe.

But his main destination was a French bakery.

He tried to buy cookies for daughters Malia and Sasha, but the baker behind the counter refused Obama's money, indicating the sweets were for his children.

As he left, a woman emerged with the one local favorite Obama had heard a great deal about _ a deep-fried pastry known as Beaver Tail.

Obama then headed to his meeting with Canada's opposition leader, Michael Ignatieff. The two chatted briefly at the start about the pastry, which the president had tried and described as delicious.

He added that in Chicago, "we have some stuff that will thicken the arteries."

• • • • • • • • • President Obama makes a surprise visit to an Ottawa market, protected by Secret Service agents.

Comments

[Nantucket1975]

02:35 PM on 02/23/2009

Add me to the millions of Canadians in love with your President!!
Although I do have 1 complaint...he is stopping me from getting my housework done, lol. I have lived in Ottawa most of my life I was GLUED to my tv on Thursday, I watched every minute of the news coverage and sadly, my laundry is still behind, lol.
As an Ottawan I have to clear up a few things about the exquisite Beavertail. They aren't at all like Funnel cakes-same artery clogging compounds maybe, lol. They are best in their simple form of cinnamon sugar and are best in the winter...the colder your nose is the better they taste. So if you are looking for the genuine article I suggest a February visit, during our winter festival of Winterlude and a long skate on the Rideau Canal...beaver tail stands can be found all up and down the canal for easy access, lol. Of course if you must come in the summer they can still be enjoyed.
.....psst...our PM's do frequent The Byward Market....and a whole wack of other public venues like arenas and parks. Infact I have never seen security as tight as on Thursday, usually you can picnic on the grass of Parliment Hill just steps away from the entrance. On Canada Day (July 1st) upwards of 300 000 people stand there to watch fireworks and see live shows. Sorry I'm babbling.
Congratulations America on a job well done!

[conrad carter]

03:05 AM on 02/23/2009

He's not the first President to get out and mingle with the little people. He was quoted later as saying, "I came for some arugula and all I got was this Beaver Tail." Canada is a third world country and the President's time would be better spent in Mexico.

[guruglenn]

07:38 PM on 02/22/2009

Isn't it great that a president will walk amongst the general public to shop at a local market. Now all we have to do is find out the true value of a "Beaver Tail".

Glenn Smith Author of Lotus Petal, A Parable to Help You to Overcome The Fear of Death.

http://lotuspetalbook.com

[skeetchamp]

06:43 PM on 02/22/2009

A 'snow globe'??? Why not get a lava lamp while you're at it?

[roshni]

07:02 PM on 02/22/2009

Because HE wants a snow globe?

[Frank-y-Ava]

01:01 AM on 02/23/2009

It's for Sasha, jerk off.

[Diplomacy]

03:56 PM on 02/22/2009

The "People's President", you gotta luv him! He would not leave the nation's capital without mingling with the "people". I thought this was a pre-advance plan, but my daughter in Ottawa says no. His schedule was down to the minute and when security heard the RCMP went flying down the street to the By-Ward market.

[lonecrone]

12:15 PM on 02/22/2009

I hope he also came away with some new ideas. Canada is the only country in the entire world that hasn't needed to bail out it's financial sector. Why? Because they saw fit to regulate the living daylights out of it, in the face of ridicule from Wall Street, back in the 1980s. I hear that in Canada, banks routinely tell prospective customers that they can't afford that mortgage or loan and turn them down. What a concept!

So Mr. Prez - learn from the best for us. Please.

[PepeLepew]

03:44 AM on 02/22/2009

Look at all those cute, amazed Canadians!

[Dustee]

01:24 AM on 02/22/2009

Thank you Canada for your warmth and hospitality to our President!

[Ravyn]

03:43 AM on 02/22/2009

Ditto that. And how cool is it that he stopped to mingle and buy some souvenirs for his daughters and good eats for himself. LOL at the comment about some Chicago food clogging the arteries. It's true but they're good. I like how down to earth Obama is trying to continue to be -- despite all the necessary secret service flanking him who must have not been too thrilled about the unplanned stop (though it might have been less risky than a planned stop) -- and I hope he will be able to remain this way throughout his presidency. It will be sad if he can't and becomes isolated due to security considerations. Thanks again, Canada!

[wanttruth]

12:51 AM on 02/22/2009

Great pictures!

[Saidso]

11:00 PM on 02/21/2009

How wonderful to have a president we can finally be proud of! What a joy to see Canada love him too.

[Milos]

06:39 PM on 02/21/2009

Very nice, very nice, can we now be little more cautious? I'm very nervous to see him walking around like this; and see the faces of his secret service details -- they are not happy campers!

[MPeter]

05:58 PM on 02/21/2009

OBAMA!!!! What a guy!!! Finally, a leader we can all believe in!

[petphotos]

05:26 PM on 02/21/2009

It is great to have something good happen for a change.

Thank you Canada.

[ArmyCentrist]

04:46 PM on 02/21/2009

He's a hard guy to dislike, even if you dislike some of his policies.

[k6007]

06:53 PM on 02/22/2009

'We can disagree without being disagreeable.' Now, where have I heard that before......;)

[Bompa]

03:44 PM on 02/21/2009

Bush or Cheney visit... Protesters, riots, marches.. Yankke Go Home signs..

Obama vistis.... smiles, happiness, good will, Welcome Mr President signs......

Change.... WE ALL CAN BELIEVE IN!

Bravo Canada and thank you for your warm welcome to our new sheriff in town!