I've never been to Venice but will be going there next May. To see so much of Venice last night on AR was fantastic. All the little side streets, alleys, etc. was wonderful. It gave me a better sense of what to expect when I go there. I was surprised to see so much graffiti but still enjoyed it.

this is one show i havent missed since the first race aired...definitely hooked on it.
ive always remembered the first race i believe where the final leg was in queens new york at the site of the worlds fair. the final two couples included a couple from queens who were confident they would beat the other team on their own turf...but they took the subway across manhattan into queens instead of a taxi and lost out.
if there is one thing i learned from all the amazing races...its this
nothing beats a taxi

The best show ever!

Speaking of teams from past shows. I loved the Gay friends (from Miami?). They were always taking their time and getting away from the pack. Sneaking into high-priced hotels to use the pool and shopping for designer items along the way. I was actually surprised at how far they got.

Of course my all time favorite team was the mother/daughter team where the mom was really trying her best to win it for her daughter.

I think they got booted on the episode where they were at a Budhist temple and had to pick a bowl of coins and drop one each into 100 different offering pots.

I never miss this show!

OK, the blondes were brought up. What happened with the two blonde lawyers who cheated on AR3 and threatened to take the producers to court? Any info about this?

I love the show.

The gay friends from Miami were on AR2 and known as Team Cha Cha Cha. They were hilarious, so were the fraternity brothers from New York on the first one.

Darn!!! I wish I could get a tape of AR1!!! I only got hooked on it toward the end of it!!! I watch for the travel and fun, not necessarily the contestants. Love seeing places I've been and places I want to visit(or not visit) some day!! I also love to critique with my friends what the teams should have done.

amyb, Ah, well I guess that would keep them from leaking the outcome before the show was over. Sounds good to me though. It's not a million bucks, but hey... it's not work either.

I'm thinking that maybe the whining isn't the worst thing they could have worked into the show. Yeah, my TV speakers were nearly ripped from their sockets after listening to Flo last year... "I can't.. nooo... I can't... oooo.. money!" Zach should have gotten every cent of that prize. Not only beat the other teams, but did it while carrying someone else.

Still, since a lot of people I know couldn't care less about travel, especially international travel, the only way a show like that is going to fly in prime time is to get a wider audience. That means bringing in the usual reality show conflict. Otherwise, most of my friends and neighbors would glaze over in no time. I think the whining is probably the price we pay for getting to see the scenery. Seems there's always a price!

PS, anyone know where that tower is that appeared in the previews for next week?

3:O

Oh and Capo, if you get on the raft before I do, you got to let us know how it was! Raft report.

I have been addicted to this show from the start. In fact my husband and I have applied for all four.....never even been called.
We missed the first episode of AR4 because we were in Switzerland (Zurich, Grindelwald and Montreux) and Italy (Bellagio and Milan). It was great fun last year watching AR3 during the planning of our trip. They went to two of our destinations (Montreux and Grindelwald) I would have loved to see the episode in Milan as we were just there.
I think they try to find unusual team combinations in order to spice up the show. That must explain why we haven't been picked (we'd be a great team!!!)....we're just a normal 40ish married couple from the midwest that loves to travel.
My plan for the next application round is to apply with my 21 year old nephew....maybe that combo will catch the casting people at CBS's eye.

Didn't really watch AR1, but became hooked on AR2/3. Missed the first 2 episodes of AR4 as we were on vacation in Portugal - one of the spots visited in AR3. Liked what we saw so much we had to see for ourselves just how beautiful Portugal (Cabo Da Roca) really is! It really took nerves of steel for AR3 contestants to rapel down the steep cliff at Cabo Da Roca! Will pick up watching AR4 from episode 3-looking for next years trip perhaps!

Capo, to answer your previous question (dated 6/05/03) regarding the name of the small town in Italy AR1 visited. I recalled they stopped at four cities in Italy: Rome, Bologna, Castelfranco Emilia, and Sant'Agata. What I can't remembered for the life of me is where was the car factory where they departed on a weird-looking car on to the next town (the detour was to do it by bike and that led to some hilarious situations). Did I mentioned that I have never missed an episode for all three seasons?

Merci, Maira. Castelfranco Emilia is the town I was trying to recall. (Although it's in northern Italy, guess it's not near Bolzano after all, as I'd thought.)

I don't recall the stop at the other town you mentioned, Sant'Agata...but I don't doubt you. :)

For what it's worth, here's a website I found on Castelfranco Emilia. I didn't know that "franco" means "free" but that make sense given the terms "frank" (as in speech) or "franking" (as in mail.)

http://www.emmeti.it/Welcome/Emilia/.../index.uk.html

Clifton,You've probably watched the show by now, but it's the Donauturm in Vienna.

elberko,

I did see the latest show, but still appreciate the thought. I was trying to figure where they were going next. No chance in the world that I'll ever bungee off of that tower though!

Just a reminder for all you fans: Amazing Race 4 tonight.

Great show...next week they will be headed to India...should get very interesting...

What a disappointment, losing the two pleasant air controllers last night, and the awful, bickering models still aboard (one of them seemed sorrier than I). I was pleased the NFL wives got their car extricated. They seem to be congenial and working hard together.

Maybe I'm alone in my opinion, but I think this group on the whole is the least personable I have seen. It's hard to root for such a bunch of unpleasant teams.

But I'll keep watching--I'm hooked!

The "clowns" seem to be pleasant fellows. They aren't bickering or trying to sabotage anyone else...

I hope the clowns or the married men win. Sort of a personality contest in a way. The two models are the worst excuse for team work I have seen. The reason one of them wants to give up is because the other one is constantly bitching at her. I think the football wives might win.

Giovanna, I agree with you wholeheartedly. The likeability factor for this season's teams is way below from previous seasons. The models are probably the worst team ever; the virgins are both whackos; the gay couple are kind of extreme neurotics; the only likable couple are the clowns, the NFL wives, and the married guys.

Gorgeous castle yesterday in Amsterdam.