From Morocco to Spain (E12)

Starting with the models leaving at sunrise, teams race off to Casablanca to locate a local open air market. Everyone seems to be gunning to get the marked for elmination BQs out this leg since they don't see Bama as a threat for the final three. The BQs have noticed the cold shoulder but are happy to have each other. Teams were apprehensive about driving on the winding mountain road because there were no safety guard rails. Along the drive, Kim mistook the goats along the roadside for dogs and then for lambs.

Arriving in Casablanca, teams get help from locals to locate the market. Running into the market, the models find the clue in a small grassy courtyard. The clue is a Roadblock - Who has a tase for the unusual? In this Roadblock, one team member has to locate the Bouchier and get just under a pound of camel meat. They then have to find Cafe 11 then prepare the meat (grind it, season it, skewer it & give to Mohamed to grill) and then eat it to get their next clue. According the the models, it's "like a really good burger". With the help of their guide, the BQs jump passed Rob & Kim and Bama and are just finishing the task when they arrive to search for the clue. None of the teams are happy to see the girls there already. Rob & Kim and Bama had problems find the clue box but seemed to power through the task once they finally did. Karlynn & Rob were feeling the pressure of coming in behind the BQs and heckled Lynn & Kim to eat faster. "Took you long enough" Karlynn to Lynn when she finished. After eating all their camel meat, teams were told to catch a flight to Barcelona, Spain!

At the airport, all teams booked a 4:30pm flight through a travel agency. At the counter, the BQs asked the boys: "If it's a foot race to the mat, could you pretend to trip to let us get to the mat first? Wouldn't you rather have us in the final three than Rob & Kim?" The models didn't reply to them from what I saw but as they were walking away, they said no way. Once in Barcelona, teams raced to catch a taxi to take them to the Parc del Laberinf d'Horta. Unfortunately it was closed and wouldn't reopen until 10am the next day. All teams raced through the high hedge maze to its center to receive their next clue, a Detour. Bama was the first team out of the maze but the BQs, who'd ordered a taxi, and Rob & Kim were the only ones who caught a taxi right away.

For this Detour, teams had a choice between Lug it and Lob it. In Lug it, the models & the BQs had to take a taxi to a local street 4 miles away and find the bridge located along it. Once there, they had to choose a giant costume and put it on. From there, they had to search for a lady in a giant costume at the Carrer de Sant Felip Neri. Both teams arrived at approximately the same time and received their clue minutes apart. In Lob it, Bama and Rob & Kim had to travel 9 miles to the town square and search through a pile of tomatoes for a tiny clue hidden inside one of the tomatoes while locals pelted them with tomatoes. Apparently the tomatoes really hurt on impact because Kim started freaking out, screaming & crying at Rob that she wanted to quit and do the other task. After finding out that the other location was 20 miles away, Rob vetoed that plan and they found their clue shortly after. Teams were then directed to the next Pit Stop.

Teams then raced towards the Palau Nacional of Mont Juic to locate the fountain where the final three would be decided. Keeping in mind that the BQs were marked for elimination, teams raced aggressively for the mat & Phil. On the way to their taxi to head for the pit stop, Karlynn apologized to Lynn for being so moody: "I don't deal with stress well." Rob & Kim were the first team to arrive at the mat where Rob promptly gushed & cried to Phil that "it would just mean a lot to me to win." Bama was next and Phil congratulated them on being the first all female team to make the final three in the history of the Amazing Race (like Rebecca's been pointing out all along). After arriving virtually in each other's pockets, the models raced up the stairs to come in third while the BQs, after following some bad directions, came in last.

Yes, people, it has finally happened. The BQs are gone. For all those that thought I'd be dancing around my apartment after seeing this, you might be surprised. I'm actually a little sorry to see them go. They made the race interesting. I may not have liked their raceplay but they engaged me in an otherwise boring season. Though, I was a little stunned that they'd ask the boys to let them come in first if they tied for the mat. They know that they're a strong team so, why would they think the other teams would want them in the final three. I doubt that if the shoe had been on the other foot, they'd have let the models hit the mat first.

Here's the order I think the teams will hit the final mat:
1st - the models
2nd - Bama
3rd - Rob & Kim

Bama had it right when they said that their ability to stay calm was their strength. The other teams are too emotional and by "other teams" I mean Rob & Kim. The models make dumb decisions. If they think things through, they could win it. But it's almost inevitable that Rob & Kim will freak out at each other and that if they have to drive themselves anywhere, Rob will either get lost or break the car.

So, put it on your calendars, folks! Season Finale next week on Sunday; it's normally two hours so be prepared. Depending on schedules, I'll probably be watching with Gus, one of my co-contributors.