Jaunted

Racers left the Munich's Segestorus Rex after receiving news that they were set to travel 850 miles south to Palermo Italy. During the beginnings of this leg, we learn quite a bit about our racers--Lori is a tad smug, Michelle "has a little more room to grow, mentally", Lake is the leader of his team, and Mo is not a dumb blonde. Once at the Munich airport, we get to see Fran snub Lake and his reaction? Predictably the dentist says, "She shouldn't be acting like that, she's a doctors wife." Oh boy.

All the teams arrive safely in Palermo Italy, the principal city in Sicily, which looks like one huge photo op, and get themselves to Teatro Massimo where they receive their next clue. This clue informs the cast that it is time to head to the ancient fortress of Castellammare Del Golfo. On the way to the seaside fortress, Eric and Jeremy are sure to throw in enough comments about "hot Italian women" and their penchant for one night stands to throw most people, and even Phil, off their scent.

The Castellammare Del Golfo detour sent the teams to the Chiesa Maria Del Soccorso carrying a 110 pound bell, or to Via Renda where our tired teams had to search through 2,400 pieces of laundry for a red and yellow clue. Most teams chose the laundry hunt, Barry even openly admitted he couldn't lift 110 lbs, even with his American Flag bandana tightly fixed to his head. However, Joseph and Ray Ray went the manly route, not only choosing the foundry but also single handedly carrying the bell up the stairs to the church. It was a real Rocky moment.

Post detour, it was back in the car for a drive to Segesta Italy. On the way to Segesta, two pivotal mind shifts happened, at least for us. First, the nerds went from lovable to hard to stomach. They were all sweaty, arguing with each other, letting the tension get the better of them, and it all culminated in the scene where Lori is completely over-thinking the whole Greek statue reconstruction project. Finally Dave breaks down on the mat and we get full blown waterworks. We know the race must be a pressure cooker, but we really aren't pulling for the nerds after this display. Second, Lake somehow, someway, despite his obvious character flaws, manages to endear himself to us, ever so slightly. Maybe it is his passion, or his reactions when things go right, "Kiss me darlin' sugar blossom!", or his eerie resemblance to Tom Cruise when he gets really excited, like when he attached the torso to the statue--in any event we aren't rooting for Lake & Michelle, but we don't want them to leave anytime soon.

In the end, Ray's game changing trash talking during statue construction got the better of the overmatched Double D's. Eric & Jeremey's reaction to the loss of their alleged "tongue wrestling" partners is sure to be legendary.

So what did we learn last night?

If the Amazing Race 9 was a Judas Priest record, when Jeremy shouts out "Holy Hot Girl" at the end of this leg, the screen would immediately flash to E & J in tights impersonating Batman & Robin, or better yet, flash to this photo, revealing their true identities once and for all. E & J, we have had you pegged from the start.

Eric & Jeremy's Gayest Moment:

Eric squealing about how hot the Greek man statue was that Jeremy was putting together.

America's Moment of Shame:

Double D #1:Could be worse, we could be in Russia.

Final Thoughts:

Pink rally caps don't work.

Also: Don't forget to send us tips, especially if you find one of our mapped Amazing Race locations are off a bit. Help us out people!

Related Stories:
·   Amazing Race 9 Episode Guide [Jaunted]
·   Episode 5 Screen Captures Galore [Jaunted/Flickr]
·   Amazing Race 9 Hotel Report Episode 5 [HotelChatter]
·   Chasing Racers: AR Mashup [Jaunted]

Where: Palermo, Italy

Tags: Amazing-Race / Google Mash Ups

by markj