The Amazing Race - November 7, 2010 Episode

I Want To Be In The Circus, That's Where I Belong

The teams are still in St Petersburg, Russia for this leg of the race.  Jill & Thomas are the first to head out at 8:30am - the clue tells them they're joining the circus.  Teams must make their way by taxi to Avtovo Circus where they'll find the next clue.  Thomas says he's outspoken and she says he talks at he, not to her - but they work well together (sure you do.)
-Brook & Claire are next out - Brook squeals like a little girl when she reads they're going to the circus and coins the title of the episode, "I want to be in the circus, that's where I belong." (there usually is a freak show.) -Kevin & Michael next out at 8:40am.

-Jill & Thomas get to the circus and it's closed - by the time it opens all the teams are there.  They rush through the gates and get the clue to the DETOUR - Circus Band or Circus Clown.
-In Circus Band - teams  choose an accordion player to teach them a Russian Folk song - when they can perform the song correctly (on the Accordion... really?) they will get their next clue.
-In Circus Clown - teams make their way inside the big top and learn plate spinning - if they can keep 10 plates spinning on sticks for at least 10 seconds, the clown will give them their next clue.
-Jill & Thomas go for the Plates - everyone gets red noses and every team is going for the plate spinning except Nat & Kat and Mallory & Gary who decide on the music. (Gary looks like the kind of guy who may already play the accordion, don't you think?)

-Inside the tent, Thomas is already telling Jill she's going it wrong (surprise.)
-Michael's getting the plates going good - they have to start the plates spinning on one small stick, transfer it to their teammate who then transfers it to the row of sticks where they have to spin all 10... meanwhile there are clowns performing all around them, music, noisy...distracting.
-Brook & Claire getting the hang of it.  Chad's telling Stephanie how to do it and of course she's going it wrong too - bicker, bicker, bicker.
-Nick finds it pretty easy but childhood trauma of the clown room at Grandma's house has made him afraid of clowns - he barks at one not to touch him (ooh tough guy.)

-Nat & Kat are doing the accordions - Kat figured out a finger numbering system to make the song a code and they learned the code... (they're smart.)
-Mallory and Gary are out there trying to learn the song too - she has an ear for music and a good memory so she's not finding it too bad - and she's the positive little thing... that goes a long way.
-But both teams are not too happy, when they finally learn the first verse, to find out there are 3 more... yikes.

Inside the plate spinners aren't fairing much better - Kevin & Michael got up to 9 plates spinning but one dropped and it was a domino effect... argh... no one's finished it yet.
-Jill & Thomas couldn't get the plates going at all so they decide to switch and try the accordions - Thomas is just too frantic, and figures since the other task is right there what's the harm... music must be easier.

-Meanwhile Nick just called Vicki a dumbass (whatever happened to his resolution to be better after Ghana?)
-Brook & Claire get all 10 plates spinning and they get the next clue - Time to solve a Russian Mystery.  They have to figure out they're looking for the Bank Bridge - a canal bridge guarded by 4 gold winged creatures... they are off.

-Nat & Kat got the song right - slow but correct using their number system and they are off with the Russian Mystery clue.

-Jill & Thomas get the first verse down and then find out there's more - he starts whining- I can't do that... (will someone smack him please.)
 
-Inside Chad decides the plates are stupid and they switch to the music - Chad, "This is like guitar hero."

-Nick & Vicki get all 10 plates spinning and get the clue - their cab driver knows where to go so hopefully not too much of a mystery since they should have a speed bump this leg (shouldn't they... come to think of it, Phil never told them they'd have a speed bump - huh?)

-Thomas is still complaining about having to learn 3 songs... (Dude, shut up or go back to the plates.)
-Gary & Mallory get through the music - she enjoyed playing the accordion with her Dad - he just watched her and followed her fingers - it was good and they were off.
-Kevin & Michael are the next to finish, they get all their plates spinning and get the Russian Mystery clue.

-Brook & Claire get to the Bank Bridge and get the next clue.  Mystery continues - they have to make their way on foot to a marked building - Prospekt Tower 1 - they can ask directions but can't pay a taxi to lead them - only 2 different team members at a time can climb the tower - at the top they have to find a figurine on the ledge of the Church on Spilled Blood which they can see from the tower and figure out that's their next destination... on foot as well.
-Nat & Kat and Nick & Vicki get the clue on the Bank Bridge and take off walking.  Kevin & Michael get the clue and Kevin neglects to read the part about not following a taxi because that's exactly what they do... (Read the clue - argh!)
-Mallory & Gary get the clue on the bridge and take off on foot.

-Back at the circus, Stephanie works out a finger number system for them to learn the song too (maybe she's got more smarts than I gave her credit for) they are picking up the music quickly. 
-Thomas & Jill still floundering (maybe if he was more positive, but she's not much better... contagious frustration with these two.)  They give up on the accordion and switch back to the plates - they are so pissed everyone was gone from inside.
-Chad & Stephanie get through the music because he was willing to let her lead - they had out.

-Brook & Claire ask a guy with a great beard where the 'prospekt' place is - he shows them and gets kisses (count is up to 9.)  They run right past the marked doorway (which is inside an archway and not greatly visible...nooo.)
-Everyone is still looking for the tower - show lots of teams running around the Russian streets.

-Jill & Thomas finish the plates finally and head out for the canal bridge.  They are in last place - not good.

-Nick & Vicki team up with Nat & Kat looking for the tower place.  Nick & Vicki are smart enough to know Nat & Kat are the team to hitch their wagon to - smart and athletic (Yup.)  They find the Prospekt tower and Kat & Nick head up to look for the clue.  They don't notice the figurine on the ledge - have no idea what they're looking for.
-Michael & Kevin are led to the tower by their cab - 3rd team there - they have to wait for the first pair before one of them can go up.
-Brook & Claire finally find the place - notice a cab outside which they don't think is fair - Kevin notices they brought their bags with them and Brook tells him they were supposed to leave their cab & walk... I don't think that computed, he probably thought he was smarter getting the cab to lead them (sheesh.)

-Kat finds some graffiti on a roof with her spyglass DS13.. is that it?  Nick finally finds the figurine - how dumb are we (speak for yourself) they see it's the same building as the one in the distance and he tells Kat he's going to tell the teams waiting they saw something that said DS13 - they're going to look for that... So he does.  They take off on foot.
-Kevin & Claire head up - he doesn't think Nick would lie to him "cause he's awesome" (Oh, no, Kevin, you need to find better role models) but they go look anyways.  He & Claire wander around up top and finally find the figurine too -"I think Nick may have lied to us..." (and a hero falls.)  They head down and jump in cabs (No! Read the clue.)

-Mallory & Gary and Jill & Thomas teamed up and found the tower - Mallory & Thomas head up to look for the next destination- looking for a flag no the figurine... he finally finds it though and they take off on foot.
-Stephanie & Cad still can't find the tower. Now in last place.  The other teams sneak by them as they head for the church.

-Nat & Kat and Nick & Vicki get to the church and the next clue box - Route Info - Where am I?  Peter the Great is buried inside me... they have to figure out they need to go to the Peter & Paul Fortress to find the next clue.  They ask a few people on the street where Peter the Great is buried but no one knows.
-Nick sees Kevin & Michael and Brook & Claire get out of taxis - knows they'll be penalized - Kevin asks if they lied to them and Nick plays dumb... Lying to us again? (Whatever, the race isn't a gentleman's game, and does it really surprise you that Nick would lie?)
-Nat & Kat find out where Peter the Great is buried by asking the tour bus lady and they have to head back to their original taxi cause their bags are still in it.  Nick & Vicki try to flag a taxi.
-Michael & Kevin's cab driver knows where they need to go so they and Brook & Claire are off.  Kevin wants to beat Nick and Vicki now to show them lying is not going to help you.

-Chad & Stephanie finally find the Prospekt tower - Stephanie goes up the tower to try and find the clue.

-Nick & Vicki can't find a cab - no one will stop for them (could be cause they both look ridiculous) and she wants to go back to where they left their original cab as well.  So they head there and still have trouble - Nick's now calling her a moron (this guy is such a prince - reverting to form I see.)

-Claire is reading over clues in the cab and sees they were supposed to go on foot to the church... they tell the driver to take them back to the tower - they have to do it right or they will be penalized.  Kevin & Michael can't figure out where they went but they had no way of telling them....

- Stephanie can't figure out what the next clue is so she switches out with Chad - he finds the figurine right away - yells down to her that it was right in front of her face - She says she loves it when he rubs it in.  They hop in a cab and he's still gloating ... will someone please read the clue... jeez.

-Nat & Kat are the first to the Peter & Paul  Fortress and get the clue to the ROADBLOCK - which one of you is the real player? - Kat is going to do it - Master a centuries old Russian game to get your next clue.  It's a difficult Russian version of bowling known as Gorodki.  (Phil is standing on a board balanced on the upright pins and a guys bowls them out from under him... trying to take out the host?  Yet he still finishes the explanation - what a pro!) Using a wooden bat they have 2 tries to clear the pins.  Once they've successfully cleared 3 pin formations they'll get the next clue.  All 5 pins have to be cleared off the playing square - Kat clears the first formation no problem.

-Nick & Vicki finally get a cab and he's still being a doofus - blaming her for how long it took (Maybe if you didn't look like a thug you could have gotten a cab... ya think?)

-Jill & Thomas and Mallory & Gary make it to the church and get the clue to go where peter the Great is buried.  They are asking locals if they know... and Brook & Claire get back there on foot... and find a cab right away (sucks to be Nick)- Brook says, "OK, now we've followed the rules."
-Jill & Thomas & Mallory & Gary find out they need to go to Peter & Paul fortress and decide to head back and get their original cabs with their bags.

-Kevin & Michael get to the Fortress and Michael is going to do the Gorodki.  Kevin is making him more nervous, I think, shouting out anxious encouragement.  Kevin wishes he had done the task but he's already done 4 and dad only 2... he can't do them all.
-Brook & Claire get there and Brook is doing the Gorodki - it's harder than it looks.
-Kat clears the 3rd formation and they get the clue to head inside the fortress to the Pit Stop!

-Chad & Stephanie get to the Church and the first person they ask knows Peter the Great is buried at Peter & Paul Fortress - so they head off quickly.

-Jill & Thomas and Mallory & Gary make it back to their original cabs - Jill's worried the other teams will be finished by that time they get there.

-Back at the Gorodki field, Brook is being her crazy self and has an audience of local players.  She clears all 3 patterns and they get the Pit Stop clue.
-Michael can't get the hang of it... Kevin is mister negative which really isn't helping matters.

-Nick & Vicki and Chad & Stephanie get to the Gorodki court and Nick is doing the bowling - She's so glad he has something (other than her) to take his aggression out on.  Clears 2 patterns quickly.
-Stephanie is doing it for them - she's not cleared any and almost hits the pin setter with the bat (the pins are on the ground lady - yikes.)
-Michael's still not cleared one pattern - (Kevin's mad now, worried they're going to be last after getting there 2nd.)
-Nick & Vicki finish and get the Pit Stop clue...
-Thomas is now doing the Gorodki for them - Jill's trying to give him aiming pointers (that doesn't go over well.)
-Mallory & Gary get to the fortress and Gary's going to bowl for them (he also looks like someone who knows how to bowl.)
-Thomas has 2, Michael finally gets one, Stephanie gets one and Gary is a monster - he powers through them like nothing.  Thomas gets his 3rd and they take off for their cab (huh?)... Gary and Mallory head inside to the Pit Stop.

-Neck & neck between Michael & Kevin and Chad & Stephanie for last place. (But we know both teams will have taxi penalties too.)  Michael finally clears the last pattern and they get the clue.

-Jill & Thomas have to pay their cab driver and get their bags before they can check in... but there are issues, they don't have as much money as the cabbie wants - the driver grabs Jill's bag... oh, this could get ugly.
-Kevin & Michael also have to pay their cab driver and he wants 10,000 (rubles?)  They don't have that much either... (uh oh, can you say Russian Gulag?)

-Chad's frustration is not helping Stephanie's aim...

-Thomas finally pulls out $60 US to pay off the cabbie and they take off with their bags.
-Kevin & Michael also resort to $40US so they can get their bags and go check in - Kevin's pleading.

-Stephanie finally clears the last pattern and Chad decides to leave their bags in the cab and check in first... foot race between them and Kevin & Michael - Chad & Stephanie try to check in but Phil tells them they need to go back their cab driver and get their bags first - off they go.

-Kevin & Michael step to the mat and Phil tells them they broke a couple rules - firstly they got their cab driver to lead them to the tower, then they took the cab from the tower to the church - for these two infractions they have incurred two 30 minute penalties - they'll have to wait an hour to check in.

-Chad & Stephanie have no problem with their cab driver - they get to the mat & Phil tells them they had a 30 minute penalty but ...

Here's How They Finished...
1) Nat & Kat - they won $5K each.  Phil asked them if they were afraid they'd made targets of themselves?  They're just afraid if they dont' go all out every leg they'll get eliminated.  (That's the way to play it, fo sho.)
2) Brook & Claire - corrected themselves so they had no penalty.
3) Nick & Vicki - Why did they not have a Speed Bump?  What's up with that?
4) Gary & Mallory - Father & Daughter, making it happen...
5) Jill & Thomas - $60 bucks poorer - I wonder if the cab driver was rooking them or if they him.)
6) Chad & Stephanie - because Kevin & Michael's penalty was longer than their own, they were allowed to check in and were team #6.
7) Kevin & Michael -***ELIMINATED*** Kevin's just mad, mostly at himself I think since he didn't read the clues closely enough - Michael feels like he got to know his son again on the Race (and I hope once he cools down Kevin will realize his Dad is a better role model than Nick.)

So, with Kevin & Michael's elimination that means Bob L, Sharon R, Denise R, Sue & Hannelore and Gillian H are out of the pool.

Preview of next week - Chad & Stephanie are missing in action (they sleep in and miss their leaving time - sweet Jebus) and Mallory is overwhelmed in Oman - there is praying and tears.  Can't wait.

Have a great week everyone.

Coleen