The Amazing Race

View Date: 11/29/09

The last four teams were competing their spots in the finale, and they were ready to do anything they had to to get in.

The teams first headed to the Spanish Synagogue to get their next clue. This was where the speed bump was for Brian and Ericka. Next up was heading across town to the Kafka museum where they encountered a roadblock. One team member had to enter the museum and answer phones until they were told five letters. They then had to use those letters to unscramble the word Franz. Once the name was decoded and the proper form completed, the contestants would get the next clue. The racers were not allowed to write the letters down while in the rooms with the phones.

Meghan was able to complete the challenge relatively easily, but Dan and Big Easy really struggled. Dan found the letters first and went into the next room to work, and was closely followed by Big Easy. They agreed to work together, and wound up writing down random letter combinations for a long time. Eventually, Dan was able to work out the correct word, but refused to give the Globetrotter the answer, saying only “All I can tell you is it starts with F”. This rightfully infuriated Big Easy.

Meghan and Cheyne learned that their next clue sent them to the Kryocentrum, where they had to complete a task that Czech athletes had been doing for years. They had to strip down to skimpy bathing suits and stay in a room kept at -180°C for two minutes. After completing this task, they were on their way to a a bridge.

Brian and Ericka went to their speed bump, where they had to go to a pub and follow a complicated process to properly prepare a shot of absinthe. They had to drink the shot, then it was on to the Kafka museum. Brian then completed the Kafka challenge before Big Easy and the pair headed on their way.

Big Easy made a crucial decision with the OK of his partner to take a four hour time penalty because he didn't think he could complete the challenge. They wound up sitting throughout the night on the steps to the Kafka museum.

After their excursions into the cold, the couples encountered a detour: Legend or Lager. In Legend, the couples would prepare a Golem made of straw and clay, which traditionally was thought to protect the Jewish quarters. They then had to pull the large construction across town to another synagogue to receive their next clue. In Lager, teams had to carry 30 beers from a brewery through a crowded town square to a bar.

Meghan/Cheyne and Dan/Sam chose the Golem challenge. Meghan and Cheyne were able to slap the clay onto their straw Golem base, and then realized how heavy the completed piece was. Luckily, the base came with wheels, so they started wheeling it through town. Dan and Sam wound up breaking their Golem's arm at the shoulder, but tried to just patch it up with some extra clay. Both teams struggled with the weight, but Dan and Sam were much more vocal, particularly Dan. After delivering their Golem, the teams got their clue to head to the pit stop and their place in the finale.

Brian and Ericka chose the Lager portion of the detour and proceeded to spend the rest of the night carting beer on small trays back and forth. They broke quite a few along the way, and had to deal with noisy, crazy locals along the route. At the end of the night (actually after daybreak), the team was able to complete the task and make their way to the pit stop.

Big Easy and Flight Time waited out their time penalty and made their way to the Kryocentrum, where they received the clue to proceed directly to the pit stop. The team was out, but they made the best of it and left with their heads held high.

10 words or less: I'm really going to miss the Globetrotters.