The Amazing Race 13, Episode 3: Walk This Way

Previously on Tina Controls the Airlines Because She Can’t Trust Ken to Do It Himself, ten teams hung around Brazil for a while. Nick & Starr and Ken & Tina’s alliance bugged Terence & Sarah, not least of all because they don’t practice basic greeting etiquette. Mark & Bill (Team Mythbusters) got ahead during the Detour but still only made it to the Pit Stop in second place, behind Ken & Tina. Anthony & Stephanie were eliminated, and by the end of the season, I guarantee that I’ll have forgotten both of their names.

The nine remaining teams are in Fortaleza, Brazil. Christy tells us that her sports bra is missing, and she suspects Starr of pushing it off a balcony ledge. In an interview, Starr denies the allegations, noting that it wouldn’t get her and Nick ahead. She clearly thinks Christy is insane for even entertaining the idea.

Ken & Tina are the first team to leave, at 12:51 a.m. They’re going to La Paz, Bolivia, one of the few race locations I’ve actually been to. Teams need to get the morning paper at the statue of Simon Bolivar and look through the want ads for the next clue. Tina interviews that she and Ken still have communication problems. Don’t they say this every week? Tina says they push each other’s buttons too much. They need to think about how they treat each other.

Team Mythbusters leaves just one minute later. They say that they need to keep doing what they’re doing. Mark adds that if they need to take a couple extra minutes to analyze their moves, that’s fine, because it seems to be working.

Terence & Sarah leave third as Sarah says that it’s them against everyone else. The race is not a popularity contest. Then I am clearly recapping the wrong show – I thought this was America’s Favorite Amazing Team. Aja & Ty leave, and Aja reminds us that they’re dating long-distance. Speaking of things that teams say every week. The race has affirmed how much Aja loves and cares about Ty. Okay, aww. Toni & Dallas leave. Dallas says that the race has been about them getting to know each other on a different level. He’s never had to get to know her in a really stressful situation.

Ken & Tina, Mythbusters, and Terence & Sarah all get to the airport as Nick & Starr leave the Pit Stop. Starr interviews that they need to be careful how they play with the other teams so they don’t put targets on their backs. Kelly & Christy leave, Christy saying that instead of getting made at each other, she and Kelly get mad at other people and laugh together. I guess here get mad equals accusing people of doing really ridiculous things.

Dan & Andrew leave. Andrew interviews that they’re not that athletic, but they’re staying in there. He’s happy with how he looks and jokes that he even thinks he looks pretty sexy. Marisa & Brooke leave last, noting that they’ve started both of the last two legs in last place. They think people underestimate them. Is it called underestimating when people you expect to come in second-to-last keep coming in second-to-last?

The teams all gather at the airport and take one of two flights to La Paz. I guess nothing interesting happened there. Upon landing, Nick tells us the elevation is almost 13,000 feet. Yep, it’s a killer. Bill says that now it’s about endurance at a high altitude.

Nick & Starr and Team Mythbusters are the first two teams heading to the statute. They’re sure they’ll be there overnight since it’s already nighttime. They’re right, but at least they’re provided with some nice blankets. It looks to be fall or winter there, so it’s not going to be a pleasant night.

In the morning, some of the ladies primp. Nick wants to make up with Kelly & Christy, since they have no reason to dislike each other. Christy says that Starr pushed her sports bra over the ledge. Nick tells her that she can believe that if she wants, but it’s not something Starr would do. Kelly says that she and Christy don’t care if people like them. My experience is that the people who say that care more than most do whether people like them.

Sarah introduces us to Ana Maria, a local she and Terence have enlisted for help this leg. Nick & Starr also have a local to accompany them. The morning papers arrive and everyone grabs at them. After some searching, Dan spots an ad for a hat sale. It sends the teams to the Narvaez Hat Shop, where they need to buy a hat to get the next clue. “Please hold on to your hat,” the ad says. Heh.

Ken & Tina spot the ad next and call Nick & Starr to come with them. Toni & Dallas are next, and Toni is happy to get a hat because she’s seen them around and thinks they’re cute. Next Team Mythbusters and Terence & Sarah get the clue and leave. They head off together and are told by Ana Maria that they can walk to the store. Kelly & Christy are next, then Aja & Ty. Marisa & Brooke are in their natural element, last place, when they finally leave.

The teams get stuck in traffic. Ahh, memories. I don’t hear nearly as much honking as I heard there in person. Andrew & Dan find the hat store and buy their hat. Terence & Sarah are right there with them. The next clue is a Detour. The options are Musical March and Bumpy Ride. In Musical, teams walk to a plaza, collect musicians and form a band, then deliver the musicians to a bandleader in another plaza. In Bumpy, teams walk to El Mercado de Las Brujas (Witch Market – awesome), get wooden bikes, and ride them down cobblestone roads to a plaza. Also, there’s a U-Turn ahead. Phil reminds us (and me, since I’d forgotten) that teams can use it to make another team do the other Detour task. Teams can only use this once during the entire race.

Andrew & Dan choose Musical so they don’t have to ride bikes. One tries to get a taxi even though the clue said to walk. Fortunately for them, his teammate points out that they have to walk. Terence & Sarah don’t catch that part and take a cab. Team Mythbusters get a clue and pick Bumpy. They take a cab. No! Read the clue!