Weird to see the different ways the two teams fucked it up. The brothers still had their travel docs, so they would have been just fine to check in and then figure out some way to get back and find their bags. The girls - for fuck's sake, that chick didn't even have her shoes on. And how would they know they wouldn't need money? (Actually, how'd they get to the party cab challenge anyway if their money was back at the dock?)

Oh, that makes even more sense, Jess.

I'm not happy that it was a non-elimination challenge. I would be happy to see either of the last two teams eliminated.

I'm with you sumi. I mean, what is the harm in making sure you have your things WITH you? Yes, you might have to spend time hailing a new cab, but to leave your passport behind? Major stooooooopido.

The cab situation is interesting in general. How do they know when they will need the same cab all day? And if they can't barter for cab fare when they are out of money, they are back to begging which I thought they tried to eliminate with the changes to non-eliminated teams not losing their cash.

It feels like there is more running out of money this season -- I wonder why, if it's true.

Yeah, I can't tell from watching if they're just bad at managing the cash, or if there's something else going on. Now, this leg, obviously it took extra for them to make the trip back and such.

Are the penalties for misbehavior fixed in advance? Two hours for each seemed long, although if they'd only gotten a half hour for each they still would have come behind the next team.

Totally agree with Jessica about the bags. D. even said so at the time; the other partner should be running right now. But I guess the redheads made it clear they were trying to be circumspect about why they went back. I think it would have been possible for teams not to notice what happened, being focused on their own propeller.

And seriously, people, never leave your passport. Did none of you watch last season?

Are the penalties for misbehavior fixed in advance?

Phil said that it was in the rules so I would guess so. I would think that every contestant would get full set of the rules before the race.

And seriously, people, never leave your passport. Did none of you watch last season?

Nevermind watching past seasons - never leave your passport is Travel 101!

(Actually, how'd they get to the party cab challenge anyway if their money was back at the dock?)

They got in the cab with the idea that he would drive them to their money when the challenge was over. But the cab driver must have overheard them muttering in the back that they couldn't pay him, because he took off while they were in the party van.

So they effectively stiffed their driver? Shouldn't that carry some kind of penalty? I guess they hadn't actively screwed him at that stage.

I would think that every contestant would get full set of the rules before the race.

They didn't look even a little surprised when Phil called them on it, just bummed that they were getting held back. I don't know that they consciously remembered when they were doing it, but it wasn't news to them.

The two hours for this actually makes me think the 1/2 hour for deliberately sabotaging other teams is bit light. But Jessica's thought about why it's a rule in the first place makes me think they're right to be extra strict on the bartering thing.