"Be there in a jif!"
Wow, tonight's is the most exciting episode of The Amazing Race I have ever seen! There are lots of delays allowing everyone to catch up to each other, lots of scary and difficult challenges, and lots and lots of bad luck. This is what I like to see. Grand holiday enjoyment!
We're setting off tonight from Dubrovnik, Croatia and Phil is wondering whether Nate and Jen are going to be able to salvage their deteriorating relationship. My question is: why would they want to? Moronald and Christina are first out the door since they were our last winners. The clue tells them to travel to Ancona, Italy, so first they have to get to Split, Croatia, and then take a ferry across the Adriatic Sea to Italy. Pretty! They hop in a cab and Christina gives her usual speech about their progress in the race reflecting their progress in their relationship. Yeah, yeah, you have a mean dad. Spin it however you want. In the car they decide that prego means "please" in Italian. I thought it meant "you're welcome" so I did some research and apparently it can be used in either case. Crazy Italians. Good food, though.
Jem and Rio leave second and Jem describes them as "the pink and black attack." Oh dear. She says that they never let each other be less than their best and that's why they always match. Just kidding, that's why they always do well. Jem's makeup is complicated and pristine for being the middle of the night. Oh, so is Rio's. Priorities, you know. Rio says that Italy is known for fashion, style and grace so they are going to fit in very well. Yes, I'll be surprised if they're not recruited to model the collections in Milan.
All ready to sit in the car for the next 30 hours!
Ugh, The Babies are next and they seem to have kissed and made up after the horror of their last leg. They talk about how they are hopeless once they get riled up and they have no idea if they'll end up together. Yes, yes, we know. Hey! There's a kitty wandering around at the bus station, how cute!
Ciao, gatto!
Moronald and Christina discover of course that there is not a bus to Split until 5 AM, so everyone is going to catch up at the bus station. That's the problem with arriving at the Pit Stop in the afternoon. You leave in the middle of the night just to get somewhere and wait around until morning. Sleeping is way too big of a deal for me to ever be successful on such an adventure. When Jem and Rio arrive Christina remarks that watching them is like a performance and Moronald calls it Kabuki Theater. LOL, Moronald. That's the first time you've made me laugh in a good way.
The Hippies are leaving now and they definitely did not get up early to put on makeup. Rachel looks exactly how I would if I had to leave somewhere at 5:37 AM. Or 7, 8 or 9 AM. Okay, or 10 or 11.
Good morning, sunshine!
Since they were so spread out on the last leg, The Hippies and Nick and Grandpa Donald aren't going to be on that first bus to Split. The Hippies catch a 6 AM bus, but Nick and Grandpa don't even leave the Pit Stop until 7:06 AM.
Well, despite the different bus times, every team ends up on the same ferry over to Italy. And this ferry looks like a luxury cruise liner. Jem and Rio settle at a table and get right to work touching up their makeup. Well, anything to pass the time I guess. There wouldn't be enough room in those duffle bags for all of my makeup. The four other teams pal around playing cards together during the ride, but Jem says that they are staying separate because once they get to Italy it will be every team for itself. Plus the cards would smudge her wet black nail polish.
Someone can't see the forest for the trees.
The ferry seems to be an all-day expedition because it is 9:40 PM when we get to Italy. The clues are taped to some street barricades that everybody goes running right past except for The Hippies, who spot them immediately. They try to be stealth about tearing their clue off, hoping no one will notice and that everyone will keep running around confused. Unfortunately the producers used loud tape and everyone turns around when Rachel rips the clue off.
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Comments (7)
Another fine recap!
I agree that this was one of the most interesting episodes yet. Lots of twists and turns and tears. Probably more fun to watch than to experience (except for the ultralights).
Did anyone else think the tatto looked a lot like "SS" (as in "Nazi Stormtrooper")? and I'd have had them put it on my butt, so the scar wouldn't show after I had it removed.
I really liked the Hippies this weak. They seemed to have it as bad as anyone, but handled it the best. Even Jem and Rio, despite the thick makeup, showed signs of cracking under the pressure.
I think I'll feel bad about every elimination from now on. Maybe not so much the babies, though.
1 of 7 | Posted by fire@will | Posted on December 27, 2007 2:34 PM
Loved your recap... it was a great show this week....wasn't that tattoo fast-forward great. Nick and Grandpa have a permanent memento of the Amazing Race now. Can't wait to see this "speed bump".... and I agree fire@will, I'm gonna start feeling bad when someone gets eliminated.... even the babies.
2 of 7 | Posted by chooch850 | Posted on December 28, 2007 12:15 AM
Great recap, HG!
I, for one, will celebrate when the Babies get kicked off. They are driving me crazy.
The Hippies impressed me, it says something about how "real" a relationship is when even in the worst situations, you support your partner rather than scream and pitch a hissy fit. TK didn't explode on Rachel when she lost the clue, and she handled him not seeing the "VINCI" as if she actually - gasp - loved him! Shocking!
My favorite part of the entire show, though, was when Moronald tried to drive off before Christina got in the car. Tee hee hee.
Can't wait till next week, and the brand-new Speedbump!
3 of 7 | Posted by lonebutterfly | Posted on December 28, 2007 6:02 AM
I can't help but root for Grandpa . . . .isn't he the oldest contestant to get this far? I was worried with the nap at the real detour, but they pulled it out. I so would have gotten that tatoo somewhere else though, on my body I mean . . . ya'd think Grandpa would have thought, "Now's my chance to make the girls look at my pelvic bone!"
I totally thought Grandpa and Moronald were toast when the season started, they have both surprised me. I'd be okay with anyone but the babies taking this one!
thanks for the recaps HoneyG!!!
4 of 7 | Posted by juddfan | Posted on December 28, 2007 10:41 AM
Thanks for the great recap.... i really enjoyed this episode and look forward to the final which is not to far in the future! These teams are so well matched really if you think about it for, like, a second. I do not wish for the crpaay dad to win though.... nor nate and harpie... but other than that....
I also think Kynt has tatoos for eyebrows... anyone else think this???
5 of 7 | Posted by giffordsaz | Posted on December 28, 2007 8:54 PM
so... phil didn't mention it, but will the speedbump replace them having to give up all their money?
great reacap as always, hg!
6 of 7 | Posted by tenacious z | Posted on December 29, 2007 5:14 PM
I'm with you, giffordsaz. I think Rio's eyebrows are either tattooed, pencilled, or applied every morning with a marker and a stencil.
This was such a good show. Even MissMidwestNomad loved it, and she's not a TAR watcher. Overall, I like Christina and Grandpa/Nicholas. I love TK/Rachel, because they've kept their cool even in impossible situations -- just imagine what the Screamin' Demons would have done. Moronald, Rio and the Babes (see Screamin' Demons) are the most annoying. Jem is alright in my book, but I don't like Rio for whatever reason (probably his overall cattiness). This is a VERY satisfying season.
7 of 7 | Posted by MidwestNomad | Posted on December 31, 2007 11:17 AM