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Obama Family Spring Break: Making History and Doing the Tango Obama Family Spring Break: Making History and Doing the Tango
(about 11 hours later)
BARILOCHE, Argentina — The presidential motorcade wove down winding roads flanked by steep grass-covered hills and a deep-blue alpine lake, delivering President Obama and his family to the trailhead of a hike through the lush woods of one of Argentina’s most spectacular regions. BARILOCHE, Argentina — The presidential motorcade wove down winding roads flanked by steep grass-covered hills and a deep-blue alpine lake, delivering President Obama and his family to the trailhead of a hike through the lush woods of one of Argentina’s most spectacular regions.
It was the final day of the Obama Family Spring Break, and one of the last big overseas adventures Mr. Obama and his wife and daughters will have before he leaves office.It was the final day of the Obama Family Spring Break, and one of the last big overseas adventures Mr. Obama and his wife and daughters will have before he leaves office.
Mr. Obama and Michelle Obama, along with their daughters, Sasha, 14, and Malia, 17, and Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, were here in Patagonia for a glimpse of stunning scenery after a trip to Cuba and Argentina that has been packed with diplomatic firsts — official meetings and state dinners — but not much family downtime.Mr. Obama and Michelle Obama, along with their daughters, Sasha, 14, and Malia, 17, and Mrs. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, were here in Patagonia for a glimpse of stunning scenery after a trip to Cuba and Argentina that has been packed with diplomatic firsts — official meetings and state dinners — but not much family downtime.
So on Thursday, the president took the afternoon off and flew Air Force One two hours southwest of Buenos Aires for a hike in Llao Llao Park and a boat ride on Lake Nahuel Huapi, with Mrs. Obama and Malia in tow. Sasha and Mrs. Robinson skipped the activities, relaxing at a luxury resort overlooking the lake.So on Thursday, the president took the afternoon off and flew Air Force One two hours southwest of Buenos Aires for a hike in Llao Llao Park and a boat ride on Lake Nahuel Huapi, with Mrs. Obama and Malia in tow. Sasha and Mrs. Robinson skipped the activities, relaxing at a luxury resort overlooking the lake.
It is rare for Mr. Obama to bring his daughters, whose privacy the White House guards vigilantly, with him on his closely watched trips overseas. This time, with a history-making adventure during school vacation, the president was determined to show them parts of the world they might not otherwise get to see.It is rare for Mr. Obama to bring his daughters, whose privacy the White House guards vigilantly, with him on his closely watched trips overseas. This time, with a history-making adventure during school vacation, the president was determined to show them parts of the world they might not otherwise get to see.
“My wife, Michelle, and I brought our daughters — and by the way, they don’t always want to go with us; they’re teenagers now,” Mr. Obama told reporters in Havana. “They have friends at home and they have things to do, but they wanted to come to Cuba because they understood, and we wanted to show them, the beauty of Cuba and its people.”“My wife, Michelle, and I brought our daughters — and by the way, they don’t always want to go with us; they’re teenagers now,” Mr. Obama told reporters in Havana. “They have friends at home and they have things to do, but they wanted to come to Cuba because they understood, and we wanted to show them, the beauty of Cuba and its people.”
Like many family vacations, this one had its ups and downs. What was planned as a leisurely family stroll through Old Havana became a soaked slog over slippery cobblestones on Sunday under an unexpected downpour. Malia and Sasha, grim-faced under large umbrellas, stepped around puddles as crowds of Cubans gawked and applauded, yelling “Obama!” Like many family vacations, this one had its ups and downs. What was planned as a leisurely family stroll through Old Havana became a soaked slog over slippery cobblestones on Sunday under an unexpected downpour. Malia and Sasha, grim-faced under large umbrellas, stepped around puddles as crowds of Cubans gawked and applauded, yelling, “Obama!”
Later, Malia translated Spanish for her father at a Cuban restaurant when he chatted with the chef.Later, Malia translated Spanish for her father at a Cuban restaurant when he chatted with the chef.
The daughters appeared cheerier in the sun on Tuesday during a baseball game at the Estadio Latinamericano, watching the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cuban national team. But when Mr. Obama and the rest of his entourage rose to do the wave, Sasha stayed seated, her arm over her face as if mortified.The daughters appeared cheerier in the sun on Tuesday during a baseball game at the Estadio Latinamericano, watching the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cuban national team. But when Mr. Obama and the rest of his entourage rose to do the wave, Sasha stayed seated, her arm over her face as if mortified.
A Presidential Tango
It’s not every day that the leader of the free world engages in a steamy dance routine with a stranger.It’s not every day that the leader of the free world engages in a steamy dance routine with a stranger.
But on Wednesday at a state dinner in Buenos Aires hosted by Mauricio Macri, the Argentine president, Mr. Obama succumbed to one of the country’s best-known charms, doing an impromptu tango with a professional dancer clad in a silver dress.But on Wednesday at a state dinner in Buenos Aires hosted by Mauricio Macri, the Argentine president, Mr. Obama succumbed to one of the country’s best-known charms, doing an impromptu tango with a professional dancer clad in a silver dress.
Mora Godoy, a renowned Argentine dancer, and a male partner were on hand as entertainment at the elegant dinner, which featured a menu of smoked trout, lamb and a dulce de leche “volcano.” But after their performance, Ms. Godoy approached Mr. Obama and asked him to join her. He initially refused but then, prodded by his Argentinian counterpart, relented. Mora Godoy, a renowned Argentine dancer, and a male partner were on hand as entertainment at the elegant dinner, which featured a menu of smoked trout, lamb and a dulce de leche “volcano.” But after their performance, Ms. Godoy approached Mr. Obama and asked him to join her. He initially refused but then, prodded by his Argentine counterpart, relented.
What followed was a presidential tango, complete with dramatic steps, spins and what appeared to be an aborted dip in which Ms. Godoy raised a bent leg high against Mr. Obama’s thigh.What followed was a presidential tango, complete with dramatic steps, spins and what appeared to be an aborted dip in which Ms. Godoy raised a bent leg high against Mr. Obama’s thigh.
Mrs. Obama got in on the fun as well, dancing her own tango with Ms. Godoy’s partner.Mrs. Obama got in on the fun as well, dancing her own tango with Ms. Godoy’s partner.
Détente’s Body Language
They shook hands cheerfully, eyed each other warily, touched arms awkwardly and locked eyes meaningfully across a crowded theater. Then they donned shades and kicked back together for a baseball game.They shook hands cheerfully, eyed each other warily, touched arms awkwardly and locked eyes meaningfully across a crowded theater. Then they donned shades and kicked back together for a baseball game.
To watch the body language between Mr. Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba this week was to witness the unfolding of a complicated relationship — warm and respectful yet tinged with suspicion, cooperative yet competitive.To watch the body language between Mr. Obama and President Raúl Castro of Cuba this week was to witness the unfolding of a complicated relationship — warm and respectful yet tinged with suspicion, cooperative yet competitive.
At an extraordinary joint news conference at the Revolutionary Palace, they seemed to grapple for control, Mr. Obama gently coaching Mr. Castro on how to handle questions from a free press, and the Cuban president resisting testily.At an extraordinary joint news conference at the Revolutionary Palace, they seemed to grapple for control, Mr. Obama gently coaching Mr. Castro on how to handle questions from a free press, and the Cuban president resisting testily.
Mr. Obama leaned indulgently on his lectern at one point when Mr. Castro abruptly paused the news conference to confer with an aide over whether to answer an American reporter’s question about Cuba’s political prisoners. After several moments, Mr. Obama, with a wry and somewhat impatient look on his face, glanced toward Mr. Castro and said, “Excuse me.”Mr. Obama leaned indulgently on his lectern at one point when Mr. Castro abruptly paused the news conference to confer with an aide over whether to answer an American reporter’s question about Cuba’s political prisoners. After several moments, Mr. Obama, with a wry and somewhat impatient look on his face, glanced toward Mr. Castro and said, “Excuse me.”
All the while, Mr. Castro’s grandson and head bodyguard stood off to one side of the stage, looking ready to pounce. The Cuban leader showed flashes of temper, at times yanking at his translation headset, at others raising his voice.All the while, Mr. Castro’s grandson and head bodyguard stood off to one side of the stage, looking ready to pounce. The Cuban leader showed flashes of temper, at times yanking at his translation headset, at others raising his voice.
The episode ended with a supremely goofy salute, Mr. Castro clasping Mr. Obama’s limp wrist as they appeared to vacillate between handshake and revolutionary fist pump.The episode ended with a supremely goofy salute, Mr. Castro clasping Mr. Obama’s limp wrist as they appeared to vacillate between handshake and revolutionary fist pump.
The next day Mr. Castro smiled broadly and waved from the balcony of the ornate Grand Theater of Havana before Mr. Obama’s speech. As the audience cheered him, Mr. Castro kept pointing to the stage where Mr. Obama would stand. The next day, Mr. Castro smiled broadly and waved from the balcony of the ornate Grand Theater of Havana before Mr. Obama’s speech. As the audience cheered him, Mr. Castro kept pointing to the stage where Mr. Obama would stand.
But Mr. Castro sat stonily as Mr. Obama directly admonished him during the speech to open Cuba’s economy and political system. Afterward, Mr. Obama gazed across the theater and silently mouthed “Thank you” to his host as the Cuban classic “Guantanamera” blared.But Mr. Castro sat stonily as Mr. Obama directly admonished him during the speech to open Cuba’s economy and political system. Afterward, Mr. Obama gazed across the theater and silently mouthed “Thank you” to his host as the Cuban classic “Guantanamera” blared.
By the start of the baseball game — an exhibition between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team — the two presidents had traded ties for shades. Surrounded by their families, they sat side by side, an interpreter just behind them, and chatted like old friends. By the start of the baseball game between the Rays and the Cuban team, the two presidents had traded ties for shades. Surrounded by their families, they sat side by side, an interpreter just behind them, and chatted like old friends.
It was not the invasion that the Cubans have long feared. But when Mr. Obama arrived in Havana this week with hundreds of Americans in his entourage, it did seem a bit like the United States had taken over the island. An Invasion of a Different Sort
It was not the invasion that the Cubans have long feared. But when Mr. Obama arrived in Havana with hundreds of Americans in his entourage, it did seem a bit like the United States had taken over the island.
Members of Congress milled around the Parque Central, gawking and snapping pictures like tourists. The White House press corps took over a floor in a large hotel, treating it as a filing center, snack bar and general meeting area.Members of Congress milled around the Parque Central, gawking and snapping pictures like tourists. The White House press corps took over a floor in a large hotel, treating it as a filing center, snack bar and general meeting area.
At a Havana restaurant with sweeping harbor views and cannons out front, Jimmy Buffett sat in with the band and Derek Jeter mingled with guests invited by Major League Baseball to celebrate the game. At a Havana restaurant with sweeping harbor views and cannons out front, Jimmy Buffett sat with the band and Derek Jeter mingled with guests invited by Major League Baseball to celebrate the game.
Senior White House staff members stood elbow to elbow with the professional ballplayers, and next to vintage 1950s cars, as waiters passed trays of mojitos. Secretary of State John Kerry and Penny Pritzker, the commerce secretary, were also there. Senior White House staff members stood elbow to elbow with the professional ballplayers, and next to 1950s cars, as waiters passed trays of mojitos. Secretary of State John Kerry and Penny Pritzker, the commerce secretary, were also there.
Late in the evening, after the state dinner, several lawmakers joined in, bopping to Mr. Buffett’s music in their cocktail attire.Late in the evening, after the state dinner, several lawmakers joined in, bopping to Mr. Buffett’s music in their cocktail attire.
As a man hand-rolled Cuban cigars nearby, Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California and the minority leader, belted out all the words to “Margaritaville.”As a man hand-rolled Cuban cigars nearby, Representative Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California and the minority leader, belted out all the words to “Margaritaville.”