THE RACE
The next major stop is Accra, Ghana, where racers must head to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to get their next clue. Miss Kentucky has a different reaction to news of the destination. "I hope I get to hold African babies!" the beauty queen says. Um, this isn't an adoption mission, Madonna.
Meanwhile, the teams have a hard time figuring out how to get from the English countryside to Heathrow. Brook kisses an Englishman in a tractor in exchange on directions to the airport. "I'm thinking if there's no watermelons in this leg, it's ours," she says.
All of the teams are on the same flight, so it's a mad dash when they arrive in Ghana. We get a sobering look at the reality of this exotic but impoverished land. When the racers hop in cabs and make their way to the park, beggars reach into the taxis pleading then groping for money. One of the beggars spits on team Glee after it politely says no.
ROADBLOCK
At the park, the racers are directed to the crowded Makola Market. There, teams have to sell 15 cedis' worth (about $10) of sunglasses amid a sea of vendors. The home shopping hosts obviously have the advantage here. Brook sweet-talks customers, telling them they look like rap stars and supermodels and gives a free hug for every pair sold. She's the first one out of there. But the rest of the group struggles to move the goods. Surprisingly, the YouTubers get outta there second; the bumbling dad hustles to sell his shades.
Meanwhile, Miss Kentucky and her dad's cab dies, putting them in last place. But they get a replacement cab and make it to the market. Luckily, she finds a guy who gives her 15 cedis for one pair. The tatted team almost has a lady walk away with some sunglasses, but she comes back with the cash. The docs have a hard time selling their quota, and end up leaving the market last.
DETOUR
Racers head to Peace Motor Spare Parts, where they hit a roadblock: Tune In or Check Out. In Tune In, they must buy a TV antenna system at a store, do a home installation to the specifications of the owner, and when the signal is good, they get their next clue. In Check Out, teams visit a wood shop that custom-makes coffins to match the lifestyle of the future occupant. Racers have to transport a big coffin—which come shaped like a camera, lion, etc.—to a showroom in town.
Most people choose Tune In, but it's not as easy as it looks. The home shopping hosts have problems getting reception. Same for team Glee, but the guys get so frustrated that they give up on the TV challenge and go to the wood shop. They narrowly avoid a fish coffin/car collision while transporting the item. The volleyballers split from the crowd to do Check Out. The strong ladies quickly get the piano coffin to the showroom no problem. The docs also choose Check Out, but stumble a bit while lugging their lobster coffin.
PIT STOP
The pit stop is Kaneshie Market. But since it's one of the largest markets in West Africa, finding Phil in the crowd is like playing Where's Waldo? But the home shopping hosts manage to spot him first, snagging a 10-day trip to Hawaii. "We might come off as the ditzy la-la girls," Claire says. "But the ditzy la-las are here to stay." The volleyballers come in second and the YouTubers take third.
OUSTED
The last four teams are neck-in-neck in a crazy cab race to the market; the cab drivers create their own lanes and dangerously weave in and out of traffic. "I'm just so proud I haven't soiled myself," Glee team member Connor says. "I think I might have," Jonathan replies. The final spot is between Miss Kentucky and daddy and the mom-daughter team. The newly reunited mom and daughter arrive last, which is sad, since the race was a special time for the birth mother to connect to the child she gave up for adoption.
NEXT WEEK
The African sun seems to make tatted-up Nick scream at his girl, and it wears out YouTube dad, who tells his son he can't go there again. Where? We'll let you know next Monday.
Related Stories:
· The Amazing Race [Official Site]
· Amazing Race Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photos: CBS]
