Obama and Castro shake hands, Evo scores a hat trick

PANAMA CITY —The moment everyone was waiting for has happened: Barack Obama and Raul Castro shook hands and exchanged brief pleasantries during the Friday night inauguration of the VII Summit of the Americas — Cuba’s first.

The unplanned exchange between the two presidents happened around 8 p.m. in roomful of diplomats and media, amid the blinding flash of cameras and jostle of the crowd. The exchange appeared cordial, relaxed and brief, but not rushed. The two leaders, who have spoked twice by phone but never face-to-face, are expected to sit down tomorrow for more hand-shaking and an extensive private chat.

Today’s historic grip-and-grin capped a full day of pre-summit bustle in Panama City. Here’s a brief look at what Day 1 looked like in different parts of the city.

1. Q: Where does The Beast park when it visits the Panama Canal? A: Wherever it wants to.

2. Evo Morales, baller-in-chief

3. #ObamaRepealTheExecutiveOrder

4.) Life’s a beach

5. The last country in the Americas to be invaded by the U.S.

6. Maduro commemorates those killed during U.S. invasion

7. Indigenous groups demand access to summit

8. Cuban delegation folds up flag and leaves

A video posted by Tim Rogers (@bajopatas) on Apr 10, 2015 at 7:19pm PDT