la dolce vita

Summing Up Day 13

There are mountains here. I am almost certain of it. I thought I saw them once, at least a vague outline of them in a hazy sky. Must be the clouds in my eyes. I hope not. Given the combination of pollution and fog that hangs over us at all times, these clouds could actually dissolve your eyeballs.

These are the happy thoughts of Day 13.

I had hoped to glimpse the mountains -- they're Alps, I think; yes, let's go with Alps -- when I flew in to Turin, but I was forced to shut my eyes the entire flight to keep from glimpsing the Euro-porn being passed back and forth by the three Belgian reporters sitting in front of me.

Since then, there's been fog, rain, smog, marinara and who knows what else in the air, but even the clear days aren't really clear. So chances are Day 17 will roll around, still with no sight of the mountains. Alps. Whatever. Perhaps on takeoff for the flight home, the porn could be stowed in the overhead compartment.

Some folks are catching that big ol' jet airliner a little early.

Here come the American hockey players, back to the States. They'll get a nice long weekend before going back to work. Chris Witty pulled out of her final race, unhappy with her performances, her hip aching. Poor Kristina Koznick is coming home for knee surgery. That gal's a gamer.

Lindsey Kildow is taking the rest of the Games off, and no one can say she didn't give it every effort. So is Janica Kostelic, who has run out of room in the family trophy case for medals. There's time to build a new cabinet before Vancouver.

Vancouver has mountains, yes?

The Curl Girls are done; the Curl Boys -- not the same, is it? -- go for the bronze tomorrow, thanks to those pesky Canadians.

Speaking of Canadians, a lot of them are going home as well.

Alex Ovechkin is not coming home. Not yet. Olie Kolzig can pick him up at the airport, though.

We're not leaving. Oh, no. Much wood to be chopped yet. And Day 14 promises something new -- a chance to go to the central part of town, shop, wave for the "Today Show" cameras and perhaps see something of Turin other than smog, and apartment buildings, and shuttered windows. I'm told there is a beautiful European city here, somewhere, and I am determined to find it, somewhere under the clouds.