Traveling with Bush: Bling, Strawberry Juice and Goat Brains?

CNN ^ | January 14, 2008 | Ed Henry

[Cecily]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (CNN) -- Who knew that President Bush loves "bling-bling," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice finds strawberry juice just dandy, and some White House journalists like to munch on goat brains?

Oh yeah, and did you know there's some good-natured wagering among the press corps -- as well as some of the president's staff -- about whether Bush will be able to stay awake into the wee hours in a meeting with the night-owlish Saudi King Abdullah?

These are just a few of the lighter insights gleaned during Bush's eight-day trip to the Mideast, which has been heavily focused on trying to lay the groundwork for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before he leaves office.

This international trip has been meatier than usual, especially given Bush's other key message: rallying Arab allies to stand together to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. But like any of Bush's other trips, there's plenty of levity that makes it a little easier to deal with sleep deprivation, jet lag and the far distance from home.

(Example: There was plenty of substance when the president visited China a couple years back, but the anecdote everyone seems to remember was when Bush finished a statement and turned to leave an ornate room -- only to find that a giant door wouldn't open and he was stuck with reporters. The stunned/bemused look on the president's face was priceless.)

Upon his arrival Sunday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Bush was presented with a gigantic bit of jewelry -- the kind of piece known by the slang term "bling" in the United States. It was a "Zayed Medallion," basically a humongous gold necklace long enough that it could be draped over the president's shoulder, according to a pool report by Richard Johnson of Fox News Radio.

[Cecily]

Dear Ed Henry, this kind of stuff is P.J. O'Rourke's turf, and he covers it well. You just sound jejune.

[GnuHere]

Dang, strawberry juice sounds good!

[tet68]

Only pic I could find, hard to make out but mucho gold.

[catpuppy]

... some White House journalists like to munch on goat brains

That's no excuse.

Helen, use your fork ...