amazing race 9

Tonight's episode was one of those navigation episodes with plenty of behind-the-wheel angst but no really difficult tasks to make anyone vomit or go ballistic.  BJ and Tyler, who are first to arrive at the first location create a little sign-up sheet, which Eric and Jeremy find amusing. Considering that these teams are always jockeying for first, they don't seem incredibly competitive with each other.  No wonder, seeing the pictures up on Jaunted this week. The first challenge is to count the number of heads surrounding an amphitheater, a nice little non-task that sets the pace for a pretty boring episode.

Any drama to be had in this episode centers around big smelly swordfish. The detour is to either pick up a 32-pound swordfish and carry it to the fish market or to sell fish in the fish market.  Most teams end up doing the fish lugging since it's the easier task. But toting the swordfish is no simple business, especially for Monica who ends up scraped up and weepy. Joseph has an Ugly American moment, saying he wants to stab the locals. She's the type of girl who, even completely covered in fish guts, looks charmingly mussed. But these two are quickly reaching Lake and Michelle levels of annoyance.  I'm a little mystified as to why Ray and Yolanda aren't doing better. They are young, fit and organized. Is it all bad navigation that's doing them in?