The Amazing Race: Cherry on Top of the Sundae That's Already Melted

(S12E06) Darn it. I know the Amazing Race takes its episode titles from actual words uttered by the contestants on the show, but this one is downright silly. More apropos from the team at hand would have been ...

"I hate you!"
"I hate you more!"

On a side note, I'd like to see the cabs in NYC spell taxi the way it's spelled in Lithuania. Taxi without the X Factor, gotta love it. I think it would add a nice cultural influence to NYC cabs. Oh, wait. Most of the cabbies are from various countries anyway. Never mind. Let's get on with the show!

Nothing against either Travelocity or little wayward roaming gnomes, but the product placement right in the beginning of the show just seemed way too blatant to me. It's fine that TK and Rachel appreciate their Travelocity trip to Japan which they won for being in first place. I'm happy they won the trip. I like them. But was it necessary to mention Travelocity so much and to even show the website for it?

Ahem.

Well, the teams didn't stay put in one country too long this time around. It seems like they just hit Lithuania last week and this week it's off to Dubrovnik, Croatia! And, they even get a whopping $109 dollars for the leg, so it's surely going to be an adventure. TK and Rachel left the Pit Stop first at 1:00 AM while Donald and Nicolas left last at 1:42 AM. So, there wasn't a huge gap between first and last. Not that it really mattered anyway.

Why not? Because they couldn't get tickets until the agents opened up at 4:30 or later as it turned out. Of course teams schemed, ordered tickets by phone to pick up later, checked out the internet for flights, vied for places in line and on and on. There were a few team relationship tidbits both on the way to the airport and after arriving there.

Christina and her father Ron had a minor disagreement about getting a cab, but they're generally getting along a lot better. Although he's still a bit much at times, he's obviously trying to control his control freak ways with Christina. She also seems a bit more willing to shush him when it's needed. It's a world of difference from the second show when he tried to boss her every move.

Hendekea and Azaria definitely had issues this leg. I have three brothers, two of them older brothers. I tell you right now ... if one treated me like Azaria treats Hendekea, I wouldn't take it. When I was seven, my oldest brother tried to control me like Azaria does Hendekea. It stopped right about that year. It's one thing to be a protective older brother, but another to not treat her with the respect she deserves. She thinks he's a control freak. She's very right. I'd be leery for any wife in his future.

On the other hand, I'm really enjoying teams Kynt and Vyxsin and TK and Rachel. As Kynt says, they're both a bit off the beaten path. TK and Rachel are mellow and laidback. Kynt and Vyxsin certainly aren't as laidback, but both teams exhibit respect for their partners in the race. Both teams tend to place fairly well each leg. I'm hoping for a win from them.

Oh. I didn't mention Nathan and Jennifer. Well, they're too busy hating each other for me to lay some more hate down on them, right?

Donald and Nicolas? I think of these two as a bit of a lost cause. It's obvious as the race goes on that Donald, the oldest in the race at 69, is tiring. That wouldn't be so bad if Nicolas was a stronger racer. But he tends to get lost and make bad decisions.

Again we had a situation where the first flight actually arrived later due to delays. And, the tickets which Azaria and Hendekea had obtained ended up being business class when they are only allowed to fly economy. So they missed out on both initial flights and lagged behind a bit, but later made up some time. It fueled more animosity between them, but Azaria seems to hate to admit when he makes a mistake.

Once in Croatia, the teams faced a Roadblock. "Who has a builder's eye?" One member had to find a correct brick to use in building a wall which had been destroyed in war. While the teams marveled about the stunning beauty of the country, all I could think was how both the Roadblock and later Detour both were war-related. It's sad to me that such a gorgeous country rich with history not of war has obviously been so affected by violence.

That said, I wasn't all that keen on the Roadblock. Nicolas was right in saying that Donald was too methodical about everything, but he should also consider that he's pushing his grandfather to hurry in the heat as he carried rocks all stressed out. Knock it off, Nicky!

From the Roadblock, it was right into the Detour on a tandem zip line. Teams could choose between Short and Long or Long and Short. In the former, teams had to rappel down a wall, then climb a rope ladder back up, then find a certain location in town for their next clue. It was said to be more confusing although the physical part wouldn't take too long. In the latter, teams rode a tandem zip into the water, got in rowboats, rowed to right near where they had to be in the town.

Vyxsin surprised me by having a history of rappelling walls and such. Kynt didn't fare as well, but he did just fine. The rowing is where some teams fell apart. Yeah, one team, really.

Ronald and Christina got off to a bad start rowing because she wanted him to face in the direction he was rowing. On this one, I agree with Ronald. I've always rowed rowboats backwards -- I seem to be stronger that way. Whitewater canoeing or kayaking, face in the direction you're going, but a rowboat?

Jennifer and Nathan absolutely imploded on the rowboat. These two should just get away from each other. Whenever things go well, they're all lovey-dovey. But whenever the going gets rough, they both yell and whine at each other. How can you tell someone you're supposedly seriously dating that you hate them? That's something for the break-up day, not during the relationship. Christina and Ronald were right -- the teams with the better working relationship together will do better.

Nathan and Jennifer managed to almost catch up to Ronald and Christina despite their difficulties. But then, I loved this part, no taksi (I told you I like the spelling) would take them because they were wet! Oh, that was priceless, but it made them yell and whine at each other more. Sheesh. They ended up approaching a private citizen and paying him to drive them to the Pit Stop. Bad decision.

At the Pit Stop, the arrival order went down like this:
1. Ronald and Christina -- they won a catamaran and were totally thrilled
2. Nathan and Jennifer -- sent back to take a cab because they broke the rules.
2. Kynt and Vyxsin
3. Nathan and Jennifer (grr)
4. TK and Rachel
5. Donald and Nicolas
6. Hendekea and Azaria

And, although Phil said "may be" eliminated, the brother and sister duo were indeed Philiminated. Although they both sang the praises of each other, I hope that Azaria picks up on the idea that he should respect his sister more. I'm sure he loves her dearly, but he has to realize he's not the only smart person in the family.

There won't be a show next week due to the Survivor China finale and reunion. But it returns in two weeks. The promos have Kynt yelling at Vyxsin. He's yelling at her to stop the car, not screaming that he hates her. Please let it be Nathan and Jennifer gone on the next leg.