by Gina Scarpa

 

Teams have moved on from Russia, leaving James and Abba behind, as The Amazing Race continues. A flag for The Netherlands is a clue to head for Amsterdam, but Trey and Lexi think they're headed to Paris. Granted, the flags look a little similar but it's a good thing they ran into Jaymes and James at the airport who stopped them from heading to the wrong country.

 

Before boarding, the Chippendales, twins, and Texans agree to a U-Turn plan if they encounter one on this leg. Whoever arrives first will U-Turn Abbie and Ryan, and whoever arrives after will U-Turn the team ahead of them, ensuring the couple will go home. Jaymes doesn't seem like he wants to participate and it seems like it'll have to be a game time decision for him. Everyone boards different planes in this order: Natalie and Nadiya (who made a one hour connection!), Jaymes and James, Trey and Lexi, Abbie and Ryan, and Josh and Brent.

 

Abbie and Ryan should have known to stay far away from Frankfurt, Germany for a connecting flight after missing one there just two legs earlier. They have no better luck this time around - first, they're turned away from their connecting flight even though they were early and then the second plane they got on had mechanical issues. They think this is as bad as it gets but they haven't reached the U-Turn yet!

 

At Amsterdam Central Station Natalie and Nadiya find a Fast Forward, and head to the Floating Dutchman bus, which is exactly what it sounds like. The bus takes a sharp turn off of the road and heads right into the water, where the twins must eat five herring each in just seven minutes. I'm amazed they were able to accomplish it because the fish were huge and did not seem appetizing at all. By the time Jaymes and James showed up to give it a shot, the girls were already done and headed for the pit stop.

 

The guys head to the Detour, where the choice are Back In Time or Organ To Grind. In Back In Time, teams must use extras to recreate Rembrandt's famous painting The Night Watch and in Organ To Grind, they must collect 30 euros in tips while playing a giant street organ. Jaymes and James find business to be slow so they slap on their Chippendales outfits (yes, they carry it with them everywhere they go) and the money starts rolling in. Lexi's bubbly personality attracts the locals as well... either that or they were just trying to get her to be quiet... and they finish soon after the guys.

 

Josh and Brent catch up to Ryan and Abbie at the airport and once again, they decide to run the leg together. They make quick work of Back In Time, then head to Museum Geelvinck and see that Jaymes and James have gone through with the plan to U-Turn Ryan and Abbie. Trey and Lexi U-Turned Jaymes and James, so Josh and Brent were basically, automatically safe. The Beekmans had a tough time saying goodbye to their friends but Brent convinced Josh that there was a reason they were still in the race so they continue on.

 

The last stop before the pit stop is a Switchback Roadblock, one we've seen before in Season 12. Teams participated in ditch vaulting, which no one seemed to have any issue with. They simply jumped across a mud pit, grabbed a pair of shoes, and jumped back. It was that easy! Why do I feel like it was slightly more difficult the first time around?

 

At the the Pit stop, located at the House of Rembrandt's mistress (weird), teams finished in the following order:

 

1. Natalie and Nadiya (win $5,000 each)
2. Jaymes and James
3. Trey and Lexi
4. Josh and Brent
5. Abbie and Ryan (eliminated)

 

What terrible luck for Abbie and Ryan who finished this leg, knowing they were out, but with grace and as much of a smile as they could muster up. That $2 million they were racing for, combined with their strong finishes all the way up through Turkey, made them way too big of a target. Teams just couldn't ignore it and much as I hate to see them go, can you blame the others for wanting to get such a strong duo out?

 

The Amazing Race airs Sundays at 8/7c on CBS.

 

(Image courtesy of CBS)

 

Follow Gina @ginascarpa