This week's episode of The Amazing Race began with us being told that Ronald had to be treated for a hernia he developed during the bike challenge in the previous leg. He decided to continue on in the race anyway even though he was in pain and would have difficulty in physical tasks. With that announcement out of the way, it was time for the nine remaining teams to leave Durgerdam, The Netherlands and begin the next leg of the race.

The teams had to catch a taxi to the Amsterdam airport where they would begin their 3,000-mile trek to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (please say that five times really fast) in West Africa. Once there, they would have to find the train station and then find the clue box. Lorena & Jason were the first team to leave with Nathan & Jennifer and Shana & Jennifer right behind them. You know how the teams read the card that tells them where they're going right before they take off? Well, it was a blast listening to them mangle the pronunciation of that city. I replayed that part a few times just to laugh at them over and over again. I could laugh because I wasn't the one having to say it.

As the rest of the teams were still leaving the previous pit stop, the first pairs were arriving at the airport and beginning to purchase their tickets. There would be two planes (departing forty minutes apart) taking the teams to Paris where there was just one flight to Ouagadougou. If any of the teams missed that flight then they would be in a heap of trouble because there was just one flight to leave for Ouagadougou each day. The blondes and Lorena & Jason were able to get their ticket, but Nathan & Jennifer had to go on a waiting list. Meanwhile, the other teams were getting to the airport and buying their tickets for the second plane to Paris. Fortunately for Nathan & Jennifer though, they were able to get on the first flight and off it went. The second flight was delayed due to mechanical problems and didn't take off until after the first flight had already landed so they were all worried they would miss the connecting flight and be 24 hours behind the first three teams.

Nathan & Jennifer were the first pair to score their tickets to Africa and it seemed they would be the only ones to make the flight. But you know how The Amazing Race goes; the other pairs on the first plane finally found the gate and the second plane landed in Paris in just enough time for them to make the flight. They're all even now.

Once in Africa, the teams grabbed taxis to take them to the train station so that they could get their next clue. The blondes got scammed by a taxi driver, but then they were stupid to have given him a big bill and expect the correct change back. There went 1,000 francs down the drain. After listening to them make the crack about being sold for money while in the cab, you just had to chuckle when the taxi driver laughed evilly at them after arguing over the change. Nathan & Jennifer were the first pair to the clue box at the train station and learned that the teams would now have to take a train to Bingo (in the middle of the Savannah) and find the next clue box that would tell them what to do. All of the teams arrived at the train station only to find that the ticket counter wouldn't be open until 6:00 AM so once again they were all caught up. The producers did treat us though to a clip from that night of Grandpa (Donald) remarking how hot Julia was and then Julia asking him to dance.

While on the train to Bingo, the blondes complained of the smell, the flies, and the trash while others took in the sites and were amazed that they were even in Africa. After getting off the train in the middle of nowhere (Bingo), the teams came upon the clue box which contained a Road Block. Who was ready to work up a thirst? One person in each pair had to milk a camel. That's right. They would have to fill a bowl to a certain line with camel's milk and then drink it to receive their next clue. If their camel ran dry while milking, they would have to wait until the other teams had finished milking their camel and then they would be able to use those camels. This was fun!

Grandpa, TK, and Lorena begin the milking, and almost immediately Lorena begins freaking out because she's afraid of the animal. It was absolutely hysterical! While TK, Donald, Christina, and Vyxsin finish up their tasks and leave, Lorena was losing her mind. Azaria and Nathan weren't doing too swell either but at least they were staying relatively calm. Lorena's camel would kick the bowl causing Lorena to spill the milk, which would then cause Lorena to cry and scream. The pairs that were leaving had to now lead four camels along a path to waiting nomads who would give them their next clue.

Nathan finished up just when Lorena's camel ran out of milk. Julia and Jennifer (in the blonde team) had their camels run out of milk and then Azaria's ran out of milk too. Props, by the way, to the all of the camel-pooping clips. Thank goodness I hadn't eaten dinner yet. As they switch to camels that still had some milk left in them, the first teams were handing their four camels off to the nomads and getting their next clue. It was a Detour: Teach It or Learn It. The teams had to choose whether to teach a local child 10 English words for common items or to learn 10 Moré words for common items.

TK & Rachel (in 1st place) and Ronald & Christina (in 5th) chose to teach while Nathan & Jennifer (in 2nd), Kynt & Vyxsin (in 3rd), and Nicolas and Donald (in 4th) chose to learn it. As the teams were learning and teaching in the schoolhouses, the blondes and Azaria & Hendekea finished their camel milking and caught up to the others in the Detour. Yes, Julia and Lorena are still milking. Azaria & Hendekea totally blew away the other pairs in the task and got their clue for the next pit stop. The teams would have to follow a marked path to a small tribal community outside of Bingo where they would meet Phil and find out their fates.

A major storm begins blowing through as the teams are trying to get their tasks done. Azaria & Hendekea are the first to meet Phil under an umbrella and win a fabulous five-night trip for two to the Elbow Beach Resort in Bermuda. Finally, Julia finishes milking her camel, and she and Marianna take off for the schools. Lorena's still fighting with her camel. Come on already Lorena! Y'all are in last place! Lorena switched to Julia's camel, gets her milk, gulps it down, and her and Jason take off in a run with their camels in tow.

Meanwhile, the teams at the school are finally finishing up and leaving for the pit stop. Five of the teams make a dash for Phil and arrive at Phil's mat at almost the same time. TK & Rachel finish in second; Nathan & Jennifer finish in third; Kynt & Vyxsin finish in fourth; Ronald & Christina finish in fifth; and Nicolas & Donald finish in sixth. Shana & Jennifer finish up at the school and come in seventh. They thought they were in last place and Jennifer began crying before Phil even told them they were safe. She's not ready to go home just yet.

Marianna & Julia and Lorena & Jason are in basically a tie at the school with both teams trying to learn their words as quickly as possible. Lorena & Jason barely finish before Marianna & Julia and both teams are running as fast as they could to get to Phil. Lorena & Jason won the foot race though and finished in eighth place. Marianna & Julia were the last time to arrive and were eliminated. The sisters told Phil the race was hard but they were glad they did it. They are now off to join the other eliminated pairs at the villa in Portugal.

Next week, the teams put their dancing skills to the test with some tough critics and Shana & Jennifer make a controversial decision. Whatever the blondes do seems to tick off Lorena & Jason who say they're going to screw over the blondes.

I really liked this week's episode. I was amazed that Ronald was able to do as good a job as he did with his hernia. I was also surprised to see Nicolas & Donald so close to the front for most of the race. I was kinda sad about Marianna & Julia going, but I'd rather them go than Lorena & Jason. Nathan & Jennifer seem to be able to bounce back quickly enough but TK & Rachel are looking to be the team to beat. Of course, the scenes with Lorena breaking down at the milking were the best of the night! What did you think about this week's episode?

Have a question related to reality TV? Email HamsterDame!
HamsterDame's blogs: Silly Reality and Silly Hamsters.

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