Italy, Days 2 and 3

Due to the lack of Internet service in our hotel, I’ve not been able to update my blog with details about the TransWorld Motocross Italian MXoN adventure. Sorry, but I’m not nerdy enough to go to an Internet cafe…

We’re all in the Autodromo di Franciacorta press room, and the wireless is as fast as we could have ever wished for. The day’s activities have yet to begin, so I’ll load some snapshots now…

Our rental cars are absolute shoe boxes. Between the four of us, there is NO WAY we could have shared a single vehicle. Truth be told, this is the first time in years that I have driven a stick shift. Couple that with the sketchy Italian roads and my European-enhanced-Asian-ethnicity, and I am driving like a kook! Lutz and Skinny’s car is even smaller than my Nissan. Here, Skinny tries to tempt the Italian women who were walking past.

Our tour at the Alpinestars headquarters was by far, the coolest tour we’ve been on. Here, Tim Collins from the US office gives Skinny the rundown on the new, more affordable Bionic Neck Support.

While I filmed for a video that we’ll post later in the week after we return to the States, Lutz snapped photos for a magazine feature.

We were all shocked to run into Colin Ferrell at the Astars factory… Depending on the amount of sleep he’s gotten, Skinny looks like various celebrities to me. When he’s grumpy, he reminds me more of Johnny Knoxville. Haha…

After our time at Astars, we all boarded a train bound for Venice. No, we don’t look like tourists…

After getting us lost several times (in spite of the GPS I rented) and actually driving the wrong way into a roundabout in Milan, I was glad to park the car and take the train! I think Eileen feels safer, too…

I don’t care how many times you’ve stayed at the Venetian in Las Vegas…Venice is bad ass! All of us were freaking out about how cool Venezia is as we took the water bus to the center of the city. In this photo, I think we were reacting to a fellow tourist who doesn’t believe in deodorant…there are A LOT of them.

I’ve yet to succumb to the circus better known as Facebook, but the guys are Facebook afficionados. Here, Lutz goes all Pastrana on me as I snap him a shot for his ‘book.

On our way to the hotel, we stopped in the Piazza di San Marco. There were thousands is pigeons everywhere. I wanted to kick them. Dirty ass birds. This V-Unit family was trying to capture their dinner, I believe. When food attacks!

The canals that run through Venezia are pretty cool. There goes Lutz with his Pastrana pose again…

At the hotel, Skinny changed his attire to blend in better. Note the sophisticated Euro headgear. haha all he needs now are new, red frames for his glasses!

I can’t believe that I have gone my entire life without ever trying a caprese salad. It is A M A Z I N G !

At night, Lutz and I had a point-and-shoot camera shootoff to see who could get the best shot of the San Marco church without a flash. Ahem….I won. ha!

In an act of desperation, we ventured into the Hard Rock in Venice. It cost us 31 euro for four beers. Half an hour later, we went to a local bar and paid 11 for the same order. God Bless American culture.

Just like they did in Milan, Skinny and Lutz charmed our waitress at the Hard Rock. It’s too bad Cassanova is long gone - he could have learned a thing or two from my guys…

Oh yeah, Skinny has a Facebook, too…

At the second or third bar we visited (I can’t remember), I was mesmerized by this guy’s shoes. They looked like something from the Michael Jackson Estate Auction. Only now, in the nice light of the press room, was I able to see that they were actually Nikes! I’m sure they aren’t from the good folks at the 6.0 division, though.

When I first strolled the streets of Venice, I felt a little self conscious because I was the only person wearing flip flops. It seemed like people were staring at me… you know…Japanese dude in flip flops? Anyway, here in Italy everyone else seems to prefer MANDALS.

Right after I snapped the MANDALS photo, a giant Australian guy came up to us and asked if we spoke English. I think he overheard us laughing about MANDALS, and he figured that we might know of a better place to grab a beer. Sadly, we didn’t. After a few minutes, our three new friends from OZ mentioned that they were in Italy to watch their friend race in the motocross world championships! Turns out that they are all friends of Bret Metcalfe, and they are here to support Metty. Talk about a small world!

The fourth (or fifth?) bar that we found actually encouraged graffiti! Patrons were allowed to write on the walls and such. Instead of scrawling “Swap was here,” though, my big brother came to mind and I left his mark instead. As of Friday afternoon in California, Ross was in good spirits, and has been transferred out of the ICU and into a regular room. He has been getting a ton of visitors and I’m told that he cracks everyone up with his usual funny story telling. Bed sores are an obvious concern, so his bed is equipped with a bar above his head, so that he can pull himself up and readjust his position in the bed often. His daughter Nikki said that he is practically doing chin ups on the thing! Getting Rossi transferred to a better facility with more specialized care for spine trauma patients is our biggest priority right now. Of course, his HMO insurance is being difficult, so it looks like we are going to have to band together and pony up for some better care. Of all the things I am homesick for after this long in Italy - my kids, my home, my friends - I am most homesick for my big brother.

In parting, I present to you a new discovery. I like to fancy myself an expert mullet hunter, but I must admit that I was so awestruck by this new species of mullet, that I nearly let it get away! Part buzz cut, part dreadlocks, I’ve decided to name this one, the MULLOCK. Sweet….