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Cherry on Top of the Sundae
That’s Already Melted
December 9
Last time, we were in the midst of a
mummer’s midsummer, and what started as a race to see who could catch
the first flight out of Africa ended as a race to count up pickets on a
fence. A race Shana & Jennifer lost. Now only six teams remain.
PIT STOP: Aukstaitija Windmill; Vilnius, Lithuania
After the requisite 12 hours for food and fellowship, TK & Rachel, the
Dirty Hippies, get their clue at 1 in the morning and are off...
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ROUTE INFO |
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Fly 900 miles to Dubrovnik, Croatia. When
you land, travel by taxi to the harbor near the Fort of St.
Lawrence, where you will find your next clue. You have $109
for this leg of the Race. |
Time to do some research. So far, all we
know is that a great majority of gymnasts come from here.
Ron & Christina are on their way to... a hotel to make a reservation.
Smart. They think that as they progress in the Race, so does their
communications.
Azaria, as he and Hendekea depart, is reminded of how much of a control
freak he is.
At the airport, the Goths and the Hippies share an internet terminal to
look for a good flight out of the country. Czech Airlines seems to be
the earliest, but the terminal opens at 4:30a. Meanwhile, Ron &
Christina got a ticket that leaves 6:25a and arrives at 11:20a today.
They are on reserve.
Nate & Jen see the first half of the race as one of regret.
Hendekea knows how to say “there’s a party in my pants” in Croatian,
thanks to a Bosnian friend of hers.
Rest of the teams arrives at the airport, as Kynt & Vyxsin notice that
everyone is crowding around the other side of the airport. Weird? They
think so, but Christina let Azaria & Hendekea know that there’s an
earlier flight that THEY are on.
Kynt & Vyxsin manage to get into everyone else’s heads, as Nate & Jen
proceed to their end of the airport. TK & Rachel decide to stick to
their guns. Azaria & Hendekea are blocked from Chris’ flight out, so now
it’s back to the line with the rest of the Racers.
TK & Rachel secure a flight out at 6a while Azaria & Hendekea break down
as they’re looking for a flight. Chris tells them to check with the
Goths. It would help if the Goths were to finish first.
Ron & Christina head to the LOT offices, which don’t open until 5:30a.
The Goths leave on the 6:25 out of Warsaw. So do the Engineering
Siblings. So do the Hippies. So do the Grands. The Cheaters… not so
much. Check-in was closed.
6a flight to DUBROVNIK via PRAGUE
Nicolas & Donald
TK & Rachel
Meanwhile, we have a problem over with Azaria & Hendekea. They
mistakenly booked for business class, when the rules of the Race
explicitly state that you have to purchase economy class. They rush back
to the office to see if they can get it corrected... but the flight is
boarding.
6:25a flight to DUBROVNIK via WARSAW
Ronald & Christina
Kynt & Vyxsin
Nathan & Jennifer
And there goes your plane. “We messed up bad.” So they’re stuck with
tickets to DUBROVNIK via FRANKFURT. But at the end of this cloud, a
silver lining. Seems that the rest of the Racers are going to be delayed
(or so says the clerk).
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Nic & Don and TK & Rachel arrive to find out that their flight is going
to be “super late”. Actually, the flight left right on time. YOU GUYS
are super late. So now it’s another hunt for tickets. TK & Rachel manage
to secure tickets to Dubrovnik, but Nic & Don are too late.
Flight to DUBROVNIK via VIENNA
TK & Rachel
Flight to DUBROVNIK via ZAGREB
Nicolas & Donald
DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Nathan & Jennifer are first out of the gate, as they search for a taxi,
followed by the Hsus and the Goths.
At the harbor, Ron & Christina are first to...
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ROADBLOCK |
WHO'S HAS A BUILDER'S EYE?
Help in the renovation of Dubrovnik’s city walls by
searching through 100 stones for one that will fit in one of
eight holes in the wall. |
They head up and start to suit up. Ron’s
concerned with throwing up. That proves not to be a problem. They
Superman across to get...
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DETOUR |
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SHORT & LONG or LONG & SHORT?
SHORT & LONG: Rappel down to the base of Fort Bocar. Once at the bottom;
choose a rope ladder and finishing assembling it. Then, scale the city
walls. Once at the top, search Dubrovnik’s Old Town to Trug Oruija to
find your next clue.
Note #1: There are two rappel lines. First come, first served.
Note #2: Only two rope ladders may be used at once time. First come,
first served.
LONG & SHORT: Use a tandem zipline to get to the water below. Once
there, swim to the floating platform and take a boat around the city
walls to Dubrovnik’s Old Town to Trug Oruija to find your next clue. |
Ron & Christina decide to take on the water, while the Cheaters and the
Goths play Tetris.
Nate & Jen are second to head to the roof, while Ron & Christina do some
strategizing. Nate & Jen decide to take to the water themselves.
Ron finally decides that his way is better. And so it was, as they make
great time. Nate & Jen... not so much. Ron says that relationships
between partners are crucial in winning the Race. Something Nate & Jen
have yet to learn.
Meanwhile, the Goths decide to rappel down the wall.
Jen to Nate: “I hate you with a passion.” She gets over it enough to get
the boat going. Ron & Christina are just ahead of them, and they did it
without bickering. But Nate & Jen discover a ladder to take them to the
town plaza.
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ROUTE INFO |
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PIT STOP
Travel four miles by taxi to the stone cross that
overlooks the city of Dubrovnik, the PIT STOP for this leg of the Race.
WARNING! The last team to check in MAY BE ELIMINATED!
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Ron & Christina are not too far behind. They
may have a shot to overtake the leading Cheaters, because their cab
driver doesn’t take soaking wet Americans that won’t stop bitching about
how their relationship sucks. He will, however, take dry Americans who
prefer to bitch in private.
And as Jennifer laments over the loss of her once and future boyfriend,
we offer a special welcome to those who have tuned in for “Cold Case”.
The Cheaters decide to take a cold car (read: not a taxi).
And in case you were wondering about the other three teams, it’s 2:39p,
and one of them, TK & Rachel, is just arriving. Way to catch up.
PIT STOP: Stone Cross; Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Holy crap, someone’s trying to kill Ronald. No, it’s only ceremonial. He
and Christina are greeted by the customary local and America’s favorite
Kiwi since Lucy Lawless. “You’re team number one! Who’s your daddy now?”
Their prize for completion, a catamaran.
Nate & Jen arrive, but rather than being officially checked in, because
of their ineptitude (a taxi usually has the word “taxi” written
somewhere), they have go BACK into town, find a taxi, and come back to
the Pit Stop.
Kynt & Vyxsin head to the Pit Stop (BOOM!) in second.
TK & Rachel head to the Road Block in fourth.
Nate & Jen head BACK to the Pit Stop (BOOM!) in third. They’re dry
enough to proceed apparently.
Kynt & Vyxsin officially check in at #2. Nate & Jen officially check in
at #3. But unofficially, they’ve already checked out… of each other.
Don & Nic finally arrive in Croatia, while TK & Rachel take on the wall.
Azaria & Hendekea finally arrive as well. Donald decides to refurbish
the wall holes… way too long. But they eventually head to the roof.
TK & Rachel arrive at the Stone Cross (BOOM!) in fourth. Nic & Don need
to rest, so they decide to row over to the plaza. Azaria & Hendekea
manage to finish the Road Block as well, so now we’re just deciding
whether to rappel or row. They row... right behind Nicky and Don.
Actually, it’s Nicky who’s doing all of the rowing. Don needs to rest
after the Road Block.
Nic & Don are the first to the pier, where they head to the clue box and
to the Pit Stop (BOOM!)… but they have to find a taxi! It’s hard to do
so, isn’t it? But they find a sign and head on their way. So do Azaria &
Hendekea, but it seems like we have a delay thanks to a roadblock of a
different kind.
Now it’s truly a race, coming in fifth is…. BOOM, Nicolas & Donald.
And (BOOM!) here comes Azaria & Hendekea. They are the sixth team to
arrive… and the latest casualties of The Amazing Race. They basically
shot themselves in the foot at the airport... or rather, the travel
agent shot them in the foot with business class tickets. Let this be a
lesson to future Racers. Make sure you know what tickets you’re getting.
After Leg 6: LITHUANIA – CROATIA
1) Ronald & Christina – catamaran
2) Kynt & Vyxsin
3) Nathan & Jennifer
4) TK & Rachel – trip to Japan
5) Nicolas & Donald
ELIMINATED) Azaria & Hendekea - trip to Canada, trip to Bermuda,
motorscooters
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