If you've ever walked through the underground tunnels leading to the subway in Paris and heard that melancholic, beautiful music coming from somewhere deep inside the maze, you can imagine what it was like walking through the arcades of this bustling square and hearing the music played by Papio Baciu. Magical. This quiet and romantic start to my day was mirrored by a much wilder end. I had the fortune of being at today's speed skating team pursuit finals and seeing the Italians win the gold. At the risk of revealing my slight lack of objectivity on the matter, hearing the crowd roar and seeing the joy in the athletes' faces gave me goosebumps and filled me with pride. Nothing quite like a host country watching some of its own bring home the gold. Papio Baciu, of Serbia, plays under the arcades of Piazza Castello, in Torino, Italy, on Thursday, Feb. 16. Baciu interrupts his playing for a moment to thank a woman for dropping some money into his basket.

"Lets hope Italy wins something," said Denise Argelli(right) as her friend, Giulia Nalin(center), tied a bracelet on her wrist in Piazza Castello, in Torino, on Thursday. Emanuele Protti(in back) purchased the bracelets from a street vendor while the three, all 17, rested after the Italy-Finland hockey game earlier in the day. Myth has it that one must make a wish when this type of bracelet finally breaks from wear. According to Argelli, 20 of her classmates met at her house at 6a.m. this morning to decorate themselves for the game, which Italy lost. The students purchased the tickets for the game at 3 euros a piece, a discounted price offered to them by one of their teachers.

(Front to back) U.S. skaters Charles Ryan Leveille Cox, Clay Mull and KC Boutiette came in sixth in Thursday's men's team pursuit at the Oval Lingotto, in Torino.

(From left) Norway's Eskil Ervik, Havard Bokko and Mikael Flygind-Larsen compete for the bronze in Thursday's men's team pursuit against the Netherlands. Norway lost the medal to the Dutch team.

Anni Friesinger competes along with her German teammates in the women's team pursuit speedskating final at the Oval Lingotto, in Torino, on Thursday. Germany beat Canada for the gold medal.

Italian speedskater Enrico Fabris(right) celebrates with teammates Matteo Anesi(left) and Ippolito Sanfratello(center) after winning the gold in the men's team pursuit on Thursday at the Oval Lingotto, in Torino.