The Final Show Approaches!!

We decided to leave early from Olivone, Switzerland and head to Treia, Italy for the final show. It is a six-hour drive. When we stepped out of the hotel – a small, quaint ski-resort, we were astounded by the view we had of the Alps. When we arrived there the previous evening we were too tired to fully digest what we were seeing. Besides, it was late afternoon and the sun was setting. It was now early morning and we were in the shadow of the mountains. This was a great photo op.

Driving from the mountains of Switzerland to the central Italy city of Treia meant we had to pass through Lodi (pronounced Laud-ee). This area of Italy, just outside of Milan has the phenomenon of intense fog in the dead of winter. Fog most often occurs in warmer weather. But in this area, even when there is thick frost on the ground there is also intense fog. We traveled through it for about 15 kilometers (see, I’ve been here so long I’m starting to think in the metric system. Oh Lord!!).

When we reached Treia I could hardly believe my eyes. Do you remember the movies about Medieval Europe… about ancient Italy…about the historical city of Jericho? Treia is an ancient, walled city. This fortress still has cobblestone streets. You can see the great military advantage to the location just based on geography. Treia is on a mountain… an actual city set on a hill. It is a place that couldn’t be hidden. But it’s also a place that you couldn’t sneak up on. From the towers or from the walls, any enemy approaching this city would be spotted.

We arrived at the hotel, a very modern establishment in this ancient place. As we walked down the street we found some very cool shops nearby. This was a very modern city in the body of an ancient museum. We got there about 4:30. We had a 7:00 sound check, and dinner at 7:30.

Our tour schedule said that we wound be singing at a church in Treia. Our tour manager said that we would be singing in a church. We were prepared for one more cold church with the amazing acoustics, to which we had become accustomed. To our surprise, when “Mad Max” met us to walk us over to the facility, which was only about 40 meters away, he told us that he just found out that it was a theatre. And, to use his wording, “…and this place is dope!”

Now, please allow me to explain “Mad Max” to you. My buddy is part Italian, part American, part Hip-Hop and totally serious about everything. My man is INTENSE! But, because of that character trait, he can always be depended on to get the job done with excellence. He can be short and curt like most Italians, but he also knows how to rap. And now, after riding around with us all week, he knows how to “whoop!” See, when things got intense on the road, “The Well” or I would break out in a sermon to lighten the mood. Well, whooping is contagious. On the way from Rivarotta, “Mad Max” took over the message for one line. That was all it took. We were all in tears… hearing this Italian, who loves to rap and rhyme, take on the art of preaching. “Preach, preacher!!” Oh yeah… did I mention that he loves to rap and rhyme? Dude will break into a rap at the drop of a dime. He can break down the history of rap and hip-hop like very few others can. We love Massimo, aka “Mad Max.”