That night, the teams all have a snooze on the floor of the bus station. Man, I wonder how they passed those twelve hours or so. I have a feeling that there were many games invented during this race, such as Rolled-Up Sock Trash Can Basketball, Rolled-Up Sock Keep-Away, and Texas Hold 'Em With A Three-Rolled-Up-Sock Limit On Raises. At any rate, at 11:30 the next morning, the Linzes and Paolos get on the first bus to Costa Rica. People dutifully note that Costa Rica is pretty. Even Alex. Hey, I'm learning to tell the members of Phi Delta Epsi-Linz apart fairly reliably. Good for me. At 12:00, the Gaghans and Weavers leave. By the way, from the picture on the side of every bus, they are apparently traveling on Kanga-Reindeer Lines. The things they're doing with genetic engineering these days. Next: lengthening Phil's torso.

On the Gaghan bus, Bill explains that giving your kids the opportunity to see really poor people is a "great gift." But he says it better than I did, so it doesn't sound quite so sadistic. Hey, I freely admit that everything sounds worse coming from me. At 12:30, the last bus, carrying the Bransens and Godlewskis, takes off. On the bus, Michelle points out that they are no longer last -- they are tied for last, thank you very much. Oh, Michelle. It's early. You haven't even been thrown into a single Random Order Scrambling Situation yet, and each episode this season has at least, like, five of those.

San Jose, Costa Rica. The Paolos and Linzes get off their bus and go to look for what sounds like it's a public parking area where their vans are hidden. DJ nags Mama Paolo to hurry up as they run for the parking. "I'm comin'," she says, a little whiny from the drive. "So's Christmas," DJ mutters. No! No, I refuse to find him even a little bit funny. I will not! Both of these teams find the parking area and find their cars. They set out to look for the volcano, and the Linzes arrange for a cab driver to lead them there. DJ leans out the window and tells Nick that if the Linzes pay the guy and let them tag along, they'll split the cost. Alliances aren't good for much in this game, but there's an example of good, sensible sharing of the wealth. Cuts everyone's costs, helps you stay in the lead...good plan. Megan tells DJ that, indeed, the guy is going to lead them right to the volcano. See, a lot of times, a stranger who takes you to a volcano is a bad thing, but here, it's a good thing.