Jaunted

The beginning of the show was definitely a period of adjustment--new show time yes, but more importantly we couldn't look at the hippies with our innocent March eyes any longer. Sure we had been wondering about E & J for over a month, but for the first five minutes of the show we couldn't get the image of a naked BJ out of our mind. Thankfully, the show started slow, and stayed in Sicily, so there was time to adjust to the new reality.

The teams set out on a cross island journey from Segesta--which was destroyed by the vandal tribe back in the day, get it, vandals, ahhh forget it--to Catania. Once safely on Siciliy's east coast, the teams rushed to the Anfiteatro Romano for a head count.

Post teatro task, it was detour time. Everyone but Fran & Barry decided to carry a 30lb fish 1/3 of a mile. We still don't know how Barry managed to sell 4 kilos of fish. Did you see the shady Italian cat that purchased the first batch of fish from Barry? Did he not look just like a Soprano's extra? As entrancing as the fish selling bit was, the real detour drama came when MoJo turned into CuJo. Monica went from dirty dancing with her fish to a full on stank fish induced meltdown. Meanwhile, her not so level headed partner, Joseph, threatened to stab locals with his swordfish. Let's just say the Amazing Race 9 casting director knew what he or she was doing when Mojo was cast. These two are going to have a classic breakdown before this race is through.

On the other hand, Michelle, who had to deal with Lake speaking Spanish to Italians*, handled the fish carrying challenge with gusto, and earned plenty of style points with us. After the fish detour was complete, the cast drove 40 miles to Siracusa for a brief kayak polo game before arriving at the Fonte Aretusa pit stop. The tail end of this leg was fairly uneventful, RaYo and the Nerds in particular seemed to be sleepwalking through this leg. Thankfully, the uninspired nerds were shown the door. Is anyone going to step up and compete with the leaders?

What did we learn last night?

What the hell was Lake wearing when he showed up in Siracusa? Was that some sort of bondage thing strapped across his chest, or was that just his mike? We know it was hot in Sicily because even Phil shed his stylish coat mid-way through the Fonte Aretusa check-in (pre Phil dance); however, if Mussolini was still in power, Lake would have been hanging from Ponte Ubertino with that get-up tied around his neck.

America's Moment of Shame:

Joseph"I'm gonna stab one of these locals through the head."

Final Thoughts:

Trying to solve detours algebraically doesn't work.

*Lake previously was speaking Spanish to Brazilians, so he is officially 0-2-1, the tie is for Russia, where Lake spoke loud, slow English to the Russians.

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