CODE NAME:
VIPER
Thirty-six hours over Vienna. Caballero, Mt. Sinai Ramp.
Th
ABOVE: Venice train depot demo.
BELOW: Ollie-Vienna, the Gonz brings one in for a landing.
harden completely. (Unfortunately for Dave,
the hospital was fresh out of crutches.) Con-
versing with Ngoho and Christ, who are
keeping Dave company, I notice the room
smells funny, kinda like burnt microfilm. They
attribute the injury to a "beef" (as they put
it, a word used by many to describe a mis-
hap) that occurred at Nice's mini skateboard
park. An alibi used to veil an agent rendez-
vous gone awry is what I think.
Roskopp suggests that they all resume the
quest for lobster dinner. He feels they might
be lucky this time.
He was right on his hunch; a lobster din
ner they did manage, only it ended up costing
them $500.00 (American currency). Fortun
ately, one of the group notices that the
restaurant accepts credit cards. Suddenly,
the plastic cards are whipped out like sabers
Duncan also attends, using a broom bor-
rowed from the hotel as a crutch
The following morning I take an interest
in the fact that Steele has purchased two 9"
and two 15" switchblades. Roskopp has pur-
chased a 24" blade weighing two pounds,
along with a NATO issue stiletto:
The same morning crutches are acquired
for Duncan. They enable
him to hobble across the
street from the hotel,
where he sits atop a wall
at the top of the stairs
leading down to the beach
upon which thousands of
topless French women are
soaking up the rays. His
perch is an excellent van-
tage point. He can easily
observe us sitting among
the hills and valleys of the
beach.
As we soak up the sun
and landscape, we are ap-
proached by a Middle
Eastern man carrying a
small plastic insulated ice
chest. He says his name
is Samir and that he is
Lebanese and asks us if
we'd like a Coke, Orangina, Perrier or beer.
After we all pay for our beer, a short whistle
blast comes from the street above. Samir looks
up, freezes for a moment and says, "Would
it be okay for me to sit here with you for a
few minutes? It is not legal for me to sell on
the beach like this. I have no permit." Not
being angels, the boys realize his dilemma
and see no problem with this simple request,
although they do charge him a one beer.
"refuge fee."
"A thousand thank-you's, my friends," Samir
says, as he covers the ice chest with a towel,
lays down and begins to read. If that wasn't
some sort of a secret signal, I don't know what.
is. (Well, I do, really, I was just making a
rhetorical statement and only saying I didn't).
Ngoho and Christ announce that they are
going on ahead to Milan, the next scheduled
stop. Christ's reason is to meet an old friend
of his, Thomas Haag, who has just arrived
from the U.S. Christ says Thomas is bring-
ing him additional skate supplies and more
funds. Dick Steele's reason for staying on in
Nice is to let Duncan recoup a bit before con-
tinuing the journey. (I perceive this to be
another illicit rendezvous).
The last night of bar-hopping occurs after
a whirlwind photo session with Caballero,
Roskopp and Mountain, in which they "ses-
sion" a bench and a large fountain. During
the bar-hopping session, Duncan falls off his
crutches onto the aged sidewalk more than
once. Those remaining attend a bar called
Valentinos. A lounge act with a big-breasted
French girl singing songs by Santana, Elton
John, and the Beatles is observed. Soon, all
but Duncan, Steele and myself leave. We
manage to rack up a $150.00 bar tab while
Duncan manipulates an exceptionally attrac-
tive older French woman with no tan lines.
MILAN, NORTHERN ITALY
On the train ride from Nice to Milan, a few
of the group attempt to bathe in the tiny
washrooms, marked with W/C on the door.
This is done with great difficulty. The sink is
very small and the water is controlled by a
foot pedal, making the cleansing of the feet
(which have come under serious stink abuse)
next to impossible. Picture yourself standing
naked, one foot in a sink, the other trying to
pump a pedal, while being slammed about
in a moving train. Then, when the train goes
through a tunnel, watch out. Sometimes it's
pitch black for several minutes.
We are greeted at the train station by Christ,
Ngoho, Thomas and a handful of local
skateboarders, named Massimo, Paulo and
Marco. They are loud, proud, energetic and
enthusiastic about this occasion. Also pre-
sent is Keith Stephenson (mentioned in last
report), who claims he has a modelling job
in the area
Those just arriving are extremely hungry
since there was no food available on the train.
Sips from Dick's never-ending supply of wine
was the only nourishment.
The Milan crew persuades us to visit the
local half-pipe in nearby Monza. (Christ,
Ngoho, Thomas and Duncan sit this one out.
Hmmmm.) It is located in the middle of the
famous Monza road race track, known for the
kamikaze fans who run out onto the track in
front of the race cars and motorcycles while
they slow down. Constructed by the locals,
this ramp has existed for the last two years
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