In the lead up to last month’s Asian Champs, man mountain, Edo and his Swannies’ hat were seen doing some high altitude training in the Italian Alps. And Pepe, his Australian Silky Terrier living the dream in Vicenza, Italy.

Last month, in the lead up to the 2012 Asian Champs, Edo Davide the Man Mountain returned back home to the mountains of Italy.

Edo was keen for some high altitude training in the Italian Alps – and to reconnect with his mutt, Pepe – arguably the most famous dog to have ever worn a Swannies’ hat.

Edo reports that,

“The Dolomites (approx two hours drive north from Venice) comprise a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps. Eighteen peaks exceed 3,000m and they cover 141,903ha. The Dolomites are UNESCO world heritage listed and, in the lead up to the Swannies’ AFL Grand Final Parties, that must be considered as being further examples of ‘awesomeness’ (Ed’s note: Edo didn’t really write about awesomeness).”

In the background of the top left hand picture, is the highest mountain in the Alps, Marmolada, which is known as the Queen of the Dolomites.

And what about the dog?

It’s Pepe! “Pepe‘s pic was taken in Vicenza (Italy)”, explains Edo. “I got him 10 years ago ‘second hand’ from a friend who had wanted to get rid of him. Since then, he’s become my best friend.

“Since I had to move to Vietnam, he’s been living with my parents in a symbiotic relationship. When I told my parents I was moving to Vietnam, the first and only question my father asked was, ‘You’re not taking away the dog, are you???’

“Believe it or not, he is an Australian Silky Terrier; somehow a sign for me, long time before meeting (my Australian wife) Melissa! Pepe’s toy-size (Ed’s note: like most things for Edo), fully adult and weighs less than three kg. On August 20th it’ll be his birthday.”

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