Recap, Episode 1: Miami to Mexico City
THE RACE BEGINS THE AMAZING RACE began on a tiny island in the Everglades of South Florida. Airboats transported the twelve two-person Teams to the remote location where they were met by host Phil Keoghan to begin their journey around the globe. Phil informed the Teams that there would be thirteen legs in THE AMAZING RACE with a Pit Stop at the end of each one. Nine of the thirteen Pit Stops would be elimination points. Phil wished the Teams good luck, saying "The world is waiting for you." When Phil signaled the start of the race, Teams ran to their bags, where their first clue was waiting. Derek & Drew, the twins from Los Angeles, ripped open the envelope first, discovering that they were headed to the Angel of Independence in Mexico City. To get there, Teams needed to drive to the airport. Understanding that every second counted in getting there, Heather & Eve, the Harvard Law School roommates, cut off an annoyed Flo & Zach, the friends from New York, on the freeway. Andre & Damon, the cop and firefighter friends from California, ran a red light as an incredulous Derek & Drew watched. At the airport, Teams had the choice of two flight options: an American Airlines flight departing first at 1:40 pm with accommodations for seven Teams, or an Aeromexico flight departing fifty minutes later. Heather & Eve were first to book the American Airlines flight. Soon, Andre & Damon, Aaron & Arianne, lifelong friends from New York, Michael & Kathy, the long distance couple from California and Michigan, Dennis & Andrew, the father-son Team from Kentucky, and John Vito and Jill, the dating couple from New York, found themselves with spots on the much-desired American Airlines flight. Teri & Ian, the married parents from Florida, and Flo & Zach went directly to the Aeromexico ticket counter. Once there, Flo convinced Zach to try for the American Airlines flight and they were rewarded with one of the last spots on the first flight. The Teams on the second flight were Teri& Ian, Gina & Sylvia, the soccer moms from South Carolina, Ken & Gerard, the brothers from New York and New Jersey, Tramel & Talicia, the brother-sister Team from Indiana, and Derek & Drew, the twins from Los Angeles. Upon landing in Mexico City, all Teams took cabs to the Angel of Independence. Aaron & Arianne arrived first to discover the next clue: a picture of a man named Pablo. Using only this picture, Teams searched the crowded streets of Mexico City to find Pablo, and their next clue. With Michael & Kathy and Andre & Damon on their heels, Aaron & Arianne quickly asked a police officer if he recognized the building in the picture. He informed them that Pablo was at Zocalo Square in downtown Mexico City. As Aaron & Arianne rushed to the square, they commented that the second plane carrying Teams had just landed. Aaron & Arianne led the pack to Pablo, who handed them their next clue. They needed to travel across town to the Hotel de Cortes, where they would spend the night and sign up for seats on one of three charter buses departing in the morning. The buses would leave two hours apart, beginning at 8:00 am. Each bus could hold four Teams. Flo & Zach, John Vito & Jill and Michael & Kathy rounded out the first bus, with Heather & Eve just missing by minutes. They found themselves booked on the second charter, along with Dennis & Andrew, Andre & Damon, and Teri & Ian. In Zocalo Square, Derek & Drew had difficulties finding their cab driver, who also had their luggage. This delay resulted in them coming to the hotel in the last group with Gina & Sylvia, Ken & Gerard and Tramel and Talicia. THE BIG JUMP Feeling the pressure the next morning, Derek & Drew and Ken & Gerard both decided to try to win the Fast Forward, which would advance them directly to the first Pit Stop. To avoid wasting valuable time, the two Teams made a gentleman's agreement that the winning Team would shout to the losing Team if they had already won the award. The Fast Forward was located in the Santo Domingo Plaza, an area filled with street typists and printers. The Teams needed to find which one of the workers had the Fast Forward printed for them. By taking a cab, Ken & Gerard found the printer before Derek & Drew, who opted to run. Winning the Fast Forward meant Ken & Gerard could immediately travel to the first Pit Stop, the Hacienda San Gabriel de Las Palmas, a 475-year-old former monastery, using the van provided for them. Meanwhile, the other Teams departed on their assigned buses and headed to Tequesquitengo Airfield. The first bus, with Aaron & Arianne, Flo & Zach, John Vito & Jill and Michael & Kathy, arrived at 10:05 am, just as the second bus was leaving the Hotel de Cortes. Racing off the bus, John Vito & Jill were the first Team to arrive at the Detour. A Detour offers the Teams a choice between two methods of getting to the next route marker. Teams could skydive from an airplane at 10,000 feet, landing them directly at the next route marker, or they could take a much less harrowing, yet slower, donkey cart ride over seven miles of terrain. Of the Teams on the first bus, only Michael & Kathy opted for the donkeys. Michael commented, "I can't skydive. My stomach ain't built for it." After seeing how long the donkey ride would be, Flo & Zack chose to skydive, although Flo was very reluctant to do this. After successfully landing next to the route marker, John Vito & Jill ripped open the envelope to discover they were heading to the Pit Stop at the Hacienda San Gabriel de Las Palmas, thirty miles away. Initially, all the Teams on bus two, Heather & Eve, Dennis & Andrew, Teri & Ian and Andre & Damon chose the donkey carts. After discovering the drawbacks to this choice, Heather & Eve decided to switch strategies and skydive, even though Eve has a fear of flying. Remarking on the slow donkeys, Heather told Eve, "We could lose to Teams this way." While talking to the skydiving instructor, Eve began crying, saying she wasn't sure if she could do it. Heather calmed Eve and convinced her to go up in the plane. This resulted in them completing the Detour and passing the other Teams from the second bus. The third bus arrived at the airfield, carrying Tramel & Talicia, Derek & Drew and Gina & Sylvia. Knowing they were in last place, all three Teams chose to skydive. Then, like the Teams ahead of them, they chose a marked van to drive to the Pit Stop. THE FIRST ELIMINATION Using the Fast Forward paid off for Ken & Gerard, who were the first Team to arrive at the Pit Stop. For their efforts, they won a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise, in addition to being the current leaders of THE AMAZING RACE. They were followed, in order, by Flo & Zach, Aaron & Arianne, Michael & Kathy and a relieved John Vito & Jill, who overcame car problems to finish in fifth place. As the other Teams trickled into the Pit Stop, the last-place Teams of Tramel & Talicia, Derek & Drew and Gina & Sylvia battled to avoid elimination. After completing the skydiving, all three Teams had trouble on their drive to the Hacienda. Some Teams struggled with the temperamental clutches on the vans. The stress got to Tramel, who said, "We are so last place, it's not even funny. And we're in the middle of nowhere." Derek & Drew stopped for directions, as did Gina & Sylva, who also needed help with their van. The despondent Team of Tramel & Talicia, expecting disappointment, approached the mat at the Pit Stop, where Phil informed them that they were the tenth Team to arrive. The pair immediately screamed and danced, with Talicia hugging Phil. Still clinging to hope while driving, Sylvia said, "The real break is if somebody else is more lost that we got." The twins appeared to lose faith, saying, "We're not good at this game." Derek & Drew were good enough, though, as they were the eleventh Team to arrive at the Pit Stop. The shocked pair hugged, remarking, "You've got to be kidding me." When Gina & Sylvia arrived several minutes later, Phil informed them that they were the last Team to arrive. The pair hugged each other, saying it was okay. Reflecting on their experience, Gina said, "I'm so proud of what we did. We got here. We ran that race and we gave it our best. We wanted to prove that we could do something, something just outside of what we do at our house." Gina added, "I tell my son--he's nine--I go, 'You can be anything you want to be.' You can do anything you want to do.' And so now, he sees Mommy. I set a goal and I tried for it. It was an accomplishment no matter where we finished."http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race3/show/episode01/ar3story01.shtml
THE RACE BEGINS THE AMAZING RACE began on a tiny island in the Everglades of South Florida. Airboats transported the twelve two-person Teams to the remote location where they were met by host Phil Keoghan to begin their journey around the globe. Phil informed the Teams that there would be thirteen legs in THE AMAZING RACE with a Pit Stop at the end of each one. Nine of the thirteen Pit Stops would be elimination points. Phil wished the Teams good luck, saying "The world is waiting for you." When Phil signaled the start of the race, Teams ran to their bags, where their first clue was waiting. Derek & Drew, the twins from Los Angeles, ripped open the envelope first, discovering that they were headed to the Angel of Independence in Mexico City. To get there, Teams needed to drive to the airport. Understanding that every second counted in getting there, Heather & Eve, the Harvard Law School roommates, cut off an annoyed Flo & Zach, the friends from New York, on the freeway. Andre & Damon, the cop and firefighter friends from California, ran a red light as an incredulous Derek & Drew watched. At the airport, Teams had the choice of two flight options: an American Airlines flight departing first at 1:40 pm with accommodations for seven Teams, or an Aeromexico flight departing fifty minutes later. Heather & Eve were first to book the American Airlines flight. Soon, Andre & Damon, Aaron & Arianne, lifelong friends from New York, Michael & Kathy, the long distance couple from California and Michigan, Dennis & Andrew, the father-son Team from Kentucky, and John Vito and Jill, the dating couple from New York, found themselves with spots on the much-desired American Airlines flight. Teri & Ian, the married parents from Florida, and Flo & Zach went directly to the Aeromexico ticket counter. Once there, Flo convinced Zach to try for the American Airlines flight and they were rewarded with one of the last spots on the first flight. The Teams on the second flight were Teri& Ian, Gina & Sylvia, the soccer moms from South Carolina, Ken & Gerard, the brothers from New York and New Jersey, Tramel & Talicia, the brother-sister Team from Indiana, and Derek & Drew, the twins from Los Angeles. Upon landing in Mexico City, all Teams took cabs to the Angel of Independence. Aaron & Arianne arrived first to discover the next clue: a picture of a man named Pablo. Using only this picture, Teams searched the crowded streets of Mexico City to find Pablo, and their next clue. With Michael & Kathy and Andre & Damon on their heels, Aaron & Arianne quickly asked a police officer if he recognized the building in the picture. He informed them that Pablo was at Zocalo Square in downtown Mexico City. As Aaron & Arianne rushed to the square, they commented that the second plane carrying Teams had just landed. Aaron & Arianne led the pack to Pablo, who handed them their next clue. They needed to travel across town to the Hotel de Cortes, where they would spend the night and sign up for seats on one of three charter buses departing in the morning. The buses would leave two hours apart, beginning at 8:00 am. Each bus could hold four Teams. Flo & Zach, John Vito & Jill and Michael & Kathy rounded out the first bus, with Heather & Eve just missing by minutes. They found themselves booked on the second charter, along with Dennis & Andrew, Andre & Damon, and Teri & Ian. In Zocalo Square, Derek & Drew had difficulties finding their cab driver, who also had their luggage. This delay resulted in them coming to the hotel in the last group with Gina & Sylvia, Ken & Gerard and Tramel and Talicia. THE BIG JUMP Feeling the pressure the next morning, Derek & Drew and Ken & Gerard both decided to try to win the Fast Forward, which would advance them directly to the first Pit Stop. To avoid wasting valuable time, the two Teams made a gentleman's agreement that the winning Team would shout to the losing Team if they had already won the award. The Fast Forward was located in the Santo Domingo Plaza, an area filled with street typists and printers. The Teams needed to find which one of the workers had the Fast Forward printed for them. By taking a cab, Ken & Gerard found the printer before Derek & Drew, who opted to run. Winning the Fast Forward meant Ken & Gerard could immediately travel to the first Pit Stop, the Hacienda San Gabriel de Las Palmas, a 475-year-old former monastery, using the van provided for them. Meanwhile, the other Teams departed on their assigned buses and headed to Tequesquitengo Airfield. The first bus, with Aaron & Arianne, Flo & Zach, John Vito & Jill and Michael & Kathy, arrived at 10:05 am, just as the second bus was leaving the Hotel de Cortes. Racing off the bus, John Vito & Jill were the first Team to arrive at the Detour. A Detour offers the Teams a choice between two methods of getting to the next route marker. Teams could skydive from an airplane at 10,000 feet, landing them directly at the next route marker, or they could take a much less harrowing, yet slower, donkey cart ride over seven miles of terrain. Of the Teams on the first bus, only Michael & Kathy opted for the donkeys. Michael commented, "I can't skydive. My stomach ain't built for it." After seeing how long the donkey ride would be, Flo & Zack chose to skydive, although Flo was very reluctant to do this. After successfully landing next to the route marker, John Vito & Jill ripped open the envelope to discover they were heading to the Pit Stop at the Hacienda San Gabriel de Las Palmas, thirty miles away. Initially, all the Teams on bus two, Heather & Eve, Dennis & Andrew, Teri & Ian and Andre & Damon chose the donkey carts. After discovering the drawbacks to this choice, Heather & Eve decided to switch strategies and skydive, even though Eve has a fear of flying. Remarking on the slow donkeys, Heather told Eve, "We could lose to Teams this way." While talking to the skydiving instructor, Eve began crying, saying she wasn't sure if she could do it. Heather calmed Eve and convinced her to go up in the plane. This resulted in them completing the Detour and passing the other Teams from the second bus. The third bus arrived at the airfield, carrying Tramel & Talicia, Derek & Drew and Gina & Sylvia. Knowing they were in last place, all three Teams chose to skydive. Then, like the Teams ahead of them, they chose a marked van to drive to the Pit Stop. THE FIRST ELIMINATION Using the Fast Forward paid off for Ken & Gerard, who were the first Team to arrive at the Pit Stop. For their efforts, they won a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise, in addition to being the current leaders of THE AMAZING RACE. They were followed, in order, by Flo & Zach, Aaron & Arianne, Michael & Kathy and a relieved John Vito & Jill, who overcame car problems to finish in fifth place. As the other Teams trickled into the Pit Stop, the last-place Teams of Tramel & Talicia, Derek & Drew and Gina & Sylvia battled to avoid elimination. After completing the skydiving, all three Teams had trouble on their drive to the Hacienda. Some Teams struggled with the temperamental clutches on the vans. The stress got to Tramel, who said, "We are so last place, it's not even funny. And we're in the middle of nowhere." Derek & Drew stopped for directions, as did Gina & Sylva, who also needed help with their van. The despondent Team of Tramel & Talicia, expecting disappointment, approached the mat at the Pit Stop, where Phil informed them that they were the tenth Team to arrive. The pair immediately screamed and danced, with Talicia hugging Phil. Still clinging to hope while driving, Sylvia said, "The real break is if somebody else is more lost that we got." The twins appeared to lose faith, saying, "We're not good at this game." Derek & Drew were good enough, though, as they were the eleventh Team to arrive at the Pit Stop. The shocked pair hugged, remarking, "You've got to be kidding me." When Gina & Sylvia arrived several minutes later, Phil informed them that they were the last Team to arrive. The pair hugged each other, saying it was okay. Reflecting on their experience, Gina said, "I'm so proud of what we did. We got here. We ran that race and we gave it our best. We wanted to prove that we could do something, something just outside of what we do at our house." Gina added, "I tell my son--he's nine--I go, 'You can be anything you want to be.' You can do anything you want to do.' And so now, he sees Mommy. I set a goal and I tried for it. It was an accomplishment no matter where we finished."