Welcome to Leg 1 of The Amazing Race 36! It’s only been a few months since we last saw the amazing Phil, but this season was filmed almost a year and a half ago, so back to COVID restrictions we go. Phil introduces us to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which apparently is the friendliest city in the world, and we get to meet the teams as they run up the Playa el Salado at the Westin Resort and Spa.
So the thirteen (!) teams for The Amazing Race 36 are: (click for more)
Michelle and Sean, Team Double Dutch, who are married, and owners of a double dutch aerobics studio in Atlanta. They have three kids, and excited to be racing together to have some down time from the kids.
Anthony and Bailey, Team Beach Bum Twins, are identical twin brothers from Clearwater, Florida. They always had to compete against each other, and the beach is their element, so they are excited to compete with each other for once.
Chris and Mary, Team Daddy-Daughter Dance, live together in a one bedroom apartment. Chris raised Mary by himself, since his wife passed away when Mary was 10. They have a really strong relationship.
Amber and Vinny, Team Dating Nurses, are nurse anesthetists that have been dating for four years. They travel a lot for their job. That’s all I’ve got.
Juan and Shane, Team Top Gun, have been best friends since they met in the Air Force. They are both married with kids, and they are excited to spend some tie together away from their wives.
Yvonne and Melissa, Dating Hikers, are a dating couple that met in the group “Girls Who Like Girls Who Like to Hike.” They are from San Diego and have been dating for three years.
Maya and Rohan, Team Superfan Siblings, are students and aquatics instructors. They have been watching since Nick and Starr won TAR13. Phil made sure they didn’t comment on his age.
Derek and Shelisa, Team Retired Blue Bloods, are grandparents that both used to be on the police force. Shelisa was the first female African-American Lieutenant on her force. They have been married for 34 years. Aldo, they do not look nor act like the oldest team on the race.
Angie and Danny, Team Family Education, are mother and son. Danny grew up sick a lot and was homeschooled. That explains a lot. And it is his dream to be on the Amazing Race.
Ricky and Cesar, Team Dating Dudes, are boyfriends. They actually became boyfriends on a trip to Puerto Vallarta, so this is very nostalgic for them.
Kishori and Karishma, Team Cousin, are cousins, but have a sisterly bond because Karishma lost both her parents to illness while she was still in high school.
Rod and Leticia, Team NFL Fitness, are married for 9 years. Rod used to be in the NFL. So, buff. But Leticia is a fighter!
Sunny and Bizzy, Team Badass Firefighter, are friends and firefighters. They joined the force in 2014, and were 2 of 3 women to make the cut. They could end up being quite strong.
(Toyouke: “I don't think I like this "introduce yourselves" thing.”)
Playa el Salado, Westin Resort and Spa, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Phil assembles the teams and reminds them about the new season. There will be no Non-Elimination Legs again, which means with 13 teams there are only 11 Legs. And charter flights are still a thing. Plus they will visit two new countries this season! Oh, and the first team to finish will win ONE MILLION DOLLARS (US$1000000)! Phil lets teams know that the first clue is on the cars in front of the hotel to drive themselves to the location of their first task. Then oh so sexy Phil does his standard patter: “Ready? The world is waiting for you. Good luck, travel safe. Cue Phil's eyebrow pop. (Kmanpat: “I’ve missed the eyebrow pop.“) GO!” Who will be eliminated . . . tonight? (Toyouke: “I did miss this show.”)
Clue: Welcome to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! Drive yourselves to the Malecón and find the Voladores Pole to to get your next clue.
So, teams get their clues, find their cars, ask for directions as necessary, and depart the Westin Resort in the following order:
1- Ricky/Cesar
2- Kishori/Karishma
3- Maya/Rohan
4- Yvonne/Melissa
5- Michelle/Sean
6- Angie/Danny – (Toyouke: “This kid is already crying about being here. And his mom too. “)
7- Rod/Leticia
8- Anthony/Bailey
9- Amber/Vinny – Amber: “I don’t speak Spanish, but I speak Southern!”
10- Juan/Shane
11- Derek/Shelisa
12- Sunny/Bizzy
13- Chris/Mary
There are two trains of thought here: jump in the car and go, or hang around and ask for directions. These two techniques work with varying degrees of success, and teams arrive at the Voladores Pole in the following order:
1- Ricky/Cesar
2- Rod/Leticia
3- Derek/Shelisa
4- Yvonne/Melissa
5- Anthony/Bailey – and they decide on their own that they are going to have to climb the pole. (Toyouke: “These two meatheads.”)
6- Amber/Vinny
7- Chris/Mary
8- Michelle/Sean
9- Kishori/Karishma
10- Angie/Danny
11- Sunny/Bizzy
12- Juan/Shane
13- Maya/Rohan – who actually get their car impossibly stuck on a dead end, and it’s kinda funny. (Toyouke: “I had hopes for these siblings but I am seeing why their dad doesn't let them use the washing machine. Now we gotta watch this Austin Powers bs.”)
(Toyouke: “I kind of love that they immediately made them drive themselves and it immediately screwed some teams.”) The teams open their clues and we get the first Detour Clue.
DETOUR:
Pick ‘Em Up OR Pin ‘Em Down
*Pick ‘Em Up: Teams make their way on foot to Calle Corona 408, where both team members must pick up two rocking horses, one large and one small, and get them back down the hill along the cobblestone streets. Teams then take their horses to the “In Search of Reason” statue on the Malecón. They must then remove the wheels using the provided tools. Once approved by the kids, teams get their next clue. Due to the limited number of rocking horses, only seven teams can complete this option.
*Pin ‘Em Down: Teams make their way on foot to Plaza Hidalgo. When they arrive, they must watch a lucha libre match for 40 seconds, and then go to a station to match up the competitors correctly. If teams are wrong, they can watch the match again. Once the matchup board is correct, the referrees give the teams their next clue. Due to the limited number of matchup boards, only seven teams can complete this option.
(Toyouke: “Is "narrow cobblestone streets" a classic phrase like "crowded and chaotic marketplace"?”)
1- Ricky/Cesar choose Pin ‘Em Down
2- Rod/Leticia choose Pin ‘Em Down
3- Derek/Shelisa choose Pick ‘Em Up
4- Yvonne/Melissa choose Pick ‘Em Up
5- Kishori/Karishma choose Pin ‘Em Down
6- Anthony/Bailey choose Pick ‘Em Up
7- Amber/Vinny choose Pick ‘Em Up
8- Angie/Danny choose Pick ‘Em Up – and Vinny is excited that his girlfriend can use tools: "This girl actually knows how to take these things off.” (Toyouke: “...It's a bolt? You turn it?”)
9- Michelle/Sean choose Pick ‘Em Up
10- Sunny/Bizzy choose Pick ‘Em Up
11- Juan/Shane choose Pick ‘Em Up – but they start heading up the hill and run into Chris and Mary who tell them the horses are gone. So they are forced to Bald Snark to Pin ‘Em Down.
12- Chris/Mary choose Pick ‘Em Up - and do so when there are still plenty of rocking horses. But they get hopelessly lost and arrive just after Sunny and Bizzy pick up the last set. So they are forced to Bald Snark to Pin ‘Em Down.
13- Maya/Rohan choose Pin ‘Em Down
(Toyouke: “These wheels on these horses would be annoying even without cobblestones. And this kid at the rocking horses is having the best day.”) Much rocking horse moving and Mexican wrestling ensues. So, teams complete the detour in the following order:
1- Ricky/Cesar
2- Rod/Leticia
3- Kishori/Karishma
4- Derek/Shelisa
5- Amber/Vinny
6- Anthony/Bailey
7- Yvonne/Melissa
8- Sunny/Bizzy
9- Juan/Shane
10- Michelle/Sean
11- Angie/Danny
12- Chris/Mary
13- Maya/Rohan
Teams are now instructed to drive themselves to Lienzo Charro Miguel “Prieto” Ibarria to get their next clue. Teams drive and arrive at the ranch in the following order:
1- Rod/Leticia
2- Ricky/Cesar
3- Derek/Shelisa
4- Kishori/Karishma
5- Angie/Danny
6- Yvonne/Melissa
7- Juan/Shane
8- Michelle/Sean
9- Anthony/Bailey
10- Sunny/Bizzy
11- Chris/Mary
12- Amber/Vinny
13- Maya/Rohan
When they rip open the clue, teams get the first roadblock.
ROADBLOCK:
Who’s feeling loopy?
In this roadblock, one team member must complete a charro challenge by jumping through seven spinning lassoes without losing their hat or bandana to get their next clue from the proctor. If a mistake is made, the Roadblocker must restart the challenge.
The following teammates take the Roadblock:
1- Rod
2- Cesar
3- Derek
4- Karishma – who does it in nine tries, but then doesn’t get her clue because she forgot to put on her bandana. (Toyouke: “So many classic Race failures and it's only the first episode. I like that they let her do all that without saying anything. I will give her credit for finishing and immediately rereading the clue instead of trying again or something.”) And then she eventually finishes on try twenty-three. I think. I lost count.
5- Danny
6- Yvonne
7- Shane
8- Sean
9- Anthony
10- Sunny
11- Mary
12- Vinny
13- Rohan
After much lasso jumping, teams complete the Roadblock in the following order:
1- Rod/Leticia
2- Ricky/Cesar
3- Derek/Shelisa
4- Juan/Shane
5- Kishori/Karishma
6- Yvonne/Melissa
7- Andie/Danny
8- Michelle/Sean
9- Anthony/Bailey
10- Sunny/Bizzy
11- Amber/Vinny
12- Chris/Mary
13- Maya/Rohan
Teams are now instructed to travel to the PIT STOP at the Playa de Los Arcos del Malecón. This is the first pit stop in a racearoundtheworld. The last team to arrive WILL be eliminated!
1- Rod/Leticia – who win the opportunity to keep racing! Oh what joy!
2- Ricky/Cesar
3- Derek/Shelisa
4- Juan/Shane
5- Michelle/Sean
6- Yvonne/Melissa
7- Angie/Danny
8- Anthony/Bailey
9- Sunny/Bizzy
10- Kishori/Karishma
11- Chris/Mary
12- Amber/Vinny
13- Maya/Rohan
And Maya and Rohan are eliminated. Shocker of the night. What is it with these superfan teams and getting eliminated first? I don’t like this trend.
ORDER NOW:
1st – Rod/Leticia
2nd – Ricky/Cesar
3rd – Derek/Shelisa
4th – Juan/Shane
5th – Michelle/Sean
6th – Yvonne/Melissa
7th – Angie/Danny
8th – Anthony/Bailey
9th – Sunny/Bizzy
10th – Kishori/Karishma
11th – Chris/Mary
12th – Amber/Vinny
Next time: More Mexico! Teams going to the wrong challenge! And there’s heat in November! Until next time!
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