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Medals Plaza catering to the Americans

Opportunities can arise at anytime. When you are traveling, you should always keep your eyes and ears open. But sometimes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time.

Last night I was having dinner with some friends. I finished my meal and was going to look around the mall, but decided to stay until they were finished.

It was during those extra few minutes of dinner that I stumbled upon a ticket for the Kelly Clarkson concert at Medals Plaza. The first American Idol is a great singer with a lot of talent, but I don’t consider myself a huge fan.

The start time on the ticket read 8pm. At first, I planned to get there around 10pm, figuring there would be an opening band. However, there was no opening band listed on the ticket. It was that uncertainty that drove me to arrive before 8pm. Now, I just had to find out how to get there.

The bus schedule was posted at the bus stop, but only by street name. I ruled out the option of a cab, since I have had some trouble with the drivers in Torino. It can be difficult to fully explain a destination to a driver. Also, they are absurdly expensive. The meter does not start from zero when you enter. If you call a cab to pick you up, the driver starts the meter after receiving your call. If you catch a cab, the meter is usually running from the last client who was dropped off. It is a terrible scheme that frustrates a lot of tourists.

A local Italian man informed me of Bus 20, the next bus for the Medals Plaza. It was scheduled to arrive in 30 minutes, but it would only say a downtown street name. He recommended I ask each bus driver that passed about the Medals Plaza. It seemed tedious, but I was excited for the challenge.

So much for waiting. Less than a minute after that man turned the corner, a bus showed up that read Medals Plaza across its screen. It was perfect.

I got off the bus with many international cameramen and local fans. Historical statues complemented the modern designs at the entrance.

This juxtaposition helped to blend the 2006 Winter Olympics with Italian History.

I walked up a heavily populated and windy hill with small parks on either side. At the top was the entrance to the Medals Plaza in the middle of the beautiful Piazza Castello. The empty whole in the Olympic Medals (they look like CDs) represents the 163 piazzas in Torino.

My standing room only ticket got me very close to the stage. An Italian woman was speaking very quickly when I entered and I did not understand much. The slower someone speaks, the easier it is to understand them.

A little movie about Italy was shown on the big screen, documenting the well-rounded history of Italy.

Then I heard a voice speaking in French, then in English (the official Olympic Languages) then in Italian (the host language). They were announcing the Medal Winners.

Womens Moguls. (Gold: Jennifer Heil, Silver: Kari Traa, Bronze: Sandra Laoura)

I got to see the first US gold medallist in Chad Hedrick from the Mens 5000m

The crowd especially erupted when Italian Enrico Fabris was called for the Bronze Medal. (Silver: Sven Kramer)

I also got to see two American medallists in the Mens Half Pipe, including the Flying Tomato, Shaun White.

The best part of all was singing the US National Anthem, twice. Not too many people were singing (or knew the words), but it was uplifting.

What celebration isnt complete without some fireworks?

I was astonished. As if that was not enough, Kelly Clarkson came on and belted out over a dozen songs. I rarely listen to her, but her performance was awesome and I could recognize all of the songs.

She sang Beautiful Disaster in a cappella and covered Crimson and Clover among all of the hits she sang.

The Italians definitely know how to throw a celebration, especially when the combine American athletes with American music.

Posted by Marco Santini  at 1:32 PM | Permalink

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Posted by: alyssa at February 14, 2006 05:57 AM

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