Istanbul, Not Constantinople

Amazing Race

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M. Giant: B- | Grade It Now!

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Istanbul, Not Constantinople

By M. Giant | Season 21 | Episode 6 | Aired on 11.04.2012

In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description!

The race finally leaves Asia, but just barely, as everyone gets on the same flight to the European side of Istanbul. But even before that happens, Ryan trash-talks everyone from the very beginning, like he's not the obnoxious one in the race. At the travel agency, Natalie and Nadiya snag James & Abba's wad of dropped cash, and make Trey & Lexi accessories after the fact by offering to split it with them. Team Metal are reduced to begging for cab fare to the airport on the street as a result. So congratulations on making Bangladesh poorer, twins.

When the teams reach Istanbul, they race via taxi (and, in the case of the Chippendales and Team Monster Truck, the Metro) to the ferry terminal, where they cross the Bosporus right back into Asia. Jaymes & James ditch the train partway, but Rob refuses to be a follower, unaware that he and Kelley are quickly falling to last place. Despite their money troubles and Abba's injured leg, Team Metal takes an early lead and, along with Lexi & Trey, are the first to find the clue for this week's Detour. They have to either carry large trays of Turkish bagels all over town or submit to a Turkish bath, so obviously the second proves more popular. Josh and Brent face a Speed Bump where they have to undertake the onerous task of eating ice cream cones. But they can't even do that right, getting their first pair of cones from the wrong stand. That only drops them to fifth place, however, because the Chippendales and the monster truckers are still behind them. The goat farmers and the monster truckers are the only two teams to schlep bagels, and Brent quickly grows impatient with Josh from under a heavy tray of baked goods. Even more impatient than usual, that is.

Meanwhile, the lead teams proceed to a Roadblock in which they dress up as local vendors to sell cups of Turkish sherbet to bazaar shoppers. Lexi's cheerleading skills come in handy here, so she and Trey are the first to reach the Pit Stop. Ryan has a better attitude on this occasion when he and Abbie come in second, even though his precious record is effectively out the window. James & Abba manage to come in third despite everything, and Natalie & Nadiya are team number four, with no penalty to be seen. Jaymes & James come in fifth, and Brent & Josh have to direct traffic themselves in order to make it to the mat in sixth place. And thus Rob & Kelley bring up the rear and are Philiminated. How does he feel about staying on that train now?

Want more? The full recap starts right below!

We're still in Dhaka, which Phil describes as "a frenetic city, and the capital of Bangladesh. Its colorful and chaotic streets have more rickshaws than any other city in the world." And that's just in the streets. We're welcomed back to the previous Pit Stop, "this former aristocratic home, built more than a hundred years ago: Lok Shilpa Jadughar." As we get a better look at it than we did last week, the place has a certain ruined fanciness about it still, now that it's a lowly arts and crafts museum. But Phil and his white fedora lend it a little class as he tells us this is the start of the sixth leg in a race around the world. James & Abba, who won the previous leg, will also be the first to start this one, at 8:30 AM. They open their clue, which is telling them to fly to Istanbul, Turkey. Phil says that's 3,700 miles to "where the Bosporus strait separates Europe and Asia." And there it is, in an overhead shot of a lovely suspension bridge spanning the continents. Much will be made of these two continents tonight, trust me.

Phil continues, "Once they touch down on the European side, they must make their way to the Kabatas Ferry Terminal, where they'll find their next clue." But first they have to visit Galaxy Travel right here in Dhaka, because without The Amazing Race, there would be no travel agencies left anywhere. "Come on, legs," Abba complains as they leave the museum grounds, but he interviews that the injury to what is now both of his knees won't stop him. "We're gonna cut it off before this causes us to stop," he vows. Hey, if that can work on The Walking Dead, there's no reason it can't work here. In the cab to the travel agency, Abba quotes St. Barton's Ode: "I am hurt, but I am not slain." "My God, this race has taken on biblical proportions!" James says, overstating the case somewhat.

Abbie and Ryan leave more than two and a half hours later, at 11:04. Which means that Team Metal actually expanded their lead during the previous leg, without benefit of a Fast Forward. Abbie does a dorky monkey-dance on the mat as Ryan reads the clue sending them to Istanbul (not Constantinople -- don't worry, I'm only doing that once) and says to her, "let's go, you Turkey." They get in a cab and say a not-so-fond farewell to Bangladesh. Abbie says she's learned to appreciate things here. "Next time you're at home and your Samsung 52-inch starts to go fuzzy on you, don't bitch about it. Go to Dhaka," Ryan says. This message brought to you by Samsung and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce.

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