A new day in Dubai and James & Sarah open the first clue of the leg telling teams to head to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Marina and wait for the Dubai Pearl, a traditional Arabian dhow, where they’ll look for the skipper who’ll give them their next clue.
They head to the marina and learn the Dubai Pearl will arrive at 9:30. Sticky & Sam and Joseph & Grace arrive at the marina and Sarah doesn’t want to give them any information, but James tells them about the boat arriving later. This makes Sarah very upset.Â
Later, Joseph & Grace, Sticky & Sam and Michelle & Jo are laying around at the marina and they decide to mess around with Paul & Steve when they arrive. Paul wonders if they need to do anything before waiting around. Grace tells them to read their clue properly and Paul & Steve walk down the pier as the others chuckle. Steve tells Paul to not mind them and Paul talks about being bullied when he was younger for having a weight problem.
When they get back, Grace wants to high five Paul, but he’s not having any of it. He says he doesn’t have to waste his time on petty bullies like Grace.Â
All the teams except Lucy & Emilia are at the dock when the Dubai Pearl arrives. Paul rushes in first and he and Steve open the clue to reveal the Detour.
In this Detour, teams would take part in tasks related to Dubai’s bustling trade market. In Count ‘Em Up, teams head to a spice market where they must count the numbers of dried limes in a sack to receive their next clue. In Price ‘Em Up, teams head to a marked jewelry store where they must arrange seven pieces of jewelry in order from least to most expensive to receive their next clue.
As the teams head to the spice market, Lucy & Emilia have to play catch up as they just start their leg. Most of the teams head to the Count ‘Em Up Detour, but Sticky & Sam’s taxi driver gets lost so they decide to do the Price ‘Em Up Detour.
Michelle & Jo, Joseph & Grace, Ross & Tarryn and James & Sarah all enter their guesses first, but none are correct. Paul & Steve write down “1493” and they are given their next clue.
They open the clue telling them to make their way on foot to the Deira Old Souq Station to search for the next clue, but! There is an Anonymous U-Turn ahead. They have to go back to their taxi to grab their bags. This allows Shane & Andrew (with 1506 limes) to pass them and arrive at the U-Turn first. Paul & Steve are right behind them as Shane & Andrew unanonymously U-Turn them.
Paul & Steve head over to the other Detour. But while Sticky & Sam are still struggling with the jewelry, Steve’s “bling” experience helps them get the task over with on their 2nd attempt.
Back at the limes, Lucy & Emilia catch up to Joseph & Grace and James & Sarah. Sarah begins counting loudly to throw the others off. And it apparently works as Joseph & Grace are wrong again. Grace snaps back at the judge and they switch, as do James & Sarah.
All the teams are done with the Detour and now on the same flight to their next destination, Istanbul, Turkey, arriving at 6:55pm.
Teams have to take a taxi to the Blue Mosque and getting there first are Paul & Steve, Lucy & Emilia, Joseph & Grace and Michelle & Jo. In the rush to find the clue, Paul accidentally bumps into Grace. She yells at him and he apologizes as he and Steve get to the Sultan with the clue first, revealing the Road Block.
In this Road Block, teams walk to the historic Hagia Sophia where they will memorize 8 Arabic symbols that they must line up in order on a vertical column in the Basilica Cistern. Teams can only return to the Hagia Sophia once if they don’t get it right the first time.
The teams head into the Hagia Sophia then run over to the Cistern where their teammates are waiting. Paul quickly finishes the Road Block and reaches into a fountain of leeches for the next clue telling them to head to the Pit Stop at the Archaeological Museum. They officially step on the Mat first and win a $10,000 trip to the Australian Rally Championship from Honda.
Michelle & Jo follow in 2nd. After going back to the Hagia Sophia, Sticky & Sam, Joseph & Grace and Shane & Andrew finish and head to “the Pit” to check-in 3rd, 4th, and 5th respectively.
Back at the Cistern, James & Sarah decide to quit and take the four-hour Road Block penalty hoping either Lucy & Emilia or Ross & Tarryn would also take a penalty. They head to see Grant and he tells them to wait off to the side. Meanwhile, Lucy is shocked to find out she’s got the correct order and she and Emilia head to the Pit Stop to officially check-in 6th.
At the Cistern, Ross quits. He tells Tarryn he can’t do it anymore and that they should’ve taken the penalty earlier. They head to the Pit Stop. Grant calls over James & Sarah and checks them in as Team #7. That makes Ross & Tarryn Team #8 and in last place.
But… it’s a non-elimination leg and they are safe. The two teams hug it out as Grant tells Ross & Tarryn that they are Marked for Elimination and must come in first the next leg or receive a 30 minute penalty.
Episode Thoughts What an episode! Lots of happenings; great competition, drama, excellent locations, a night task!
We haven’t had a leg like this on TARUS in years. Actually hopping on a plane in the middle of a leg!? Unheard of! The first part of the leg in Dubai had the great Detour. Two simple, yet tricky tasks that would trip up any team. Having the U-Turn before the country hopping also interesting and refreshing since TARUS has put U-Turns right before the Pit Stop with no chance for the U-Turned team to catch up.
This was probably the first time a team in first place gets U-Turned. So much in first place that they can complete the 2nd Detour and still be in 3rd place.
The flight to Turkey was essentially a mid-leg equalizer and also helped set up the excellent Road Block at the Hagia Sophia to take place at night. What an amazing visual of being inside the Hagia Sophia and then down in that Cistern in the darkness. I’ve always loved it when TARUS did nighttime legs. Of course, safety is a concern, but whenever they can, I hope TARUS does more stuff at night.Â
Overall, probably my favorite episode of the season so far. I think this season has gotten better and better every episode.Â
PIT STOP Four Points by Sheraton Helipad Dubai, UAE
CASH $143
ROUTE MARKER Dubai Pearl, Jumeirah Beach Hotel Marina Dubai
DETOUR Al Arsa Souq Old Gold Souq Dubai
ROUTE MARKER Deira Old Souq Station Dubai
DESTINATION CITY Istanbul, Turkey
ROUTE MARKER Blue Mosque Istanbul
ROAD BLOCK Hagia Sophia Basilica Cistern Istanbul
PIT STOP Archaeological Museum Istanbul, Turkey
DEPARTURE Four Points by Sheraton Helipad Dubai, UAE
James & Sarah 5:47am Sticky & Sam 5:59am Joseph & Grace 6:09am Michelle & Jo 6:10am Shane & Andrew 7:04am Paul & Steve 7:49am Ross & Tarryn 8:14am Lucy & Emilia 9:42am
COUNT ‘EM UP µÂ
PRICE ‘EM UP µ > >
> or < indicates team switched Detours.
Who did the Road Block? Whose memory won’t go to water? In order of completion; Italics indicate who did the Road Block
3Paul Steve 0 2 Michelle Jo1 1 Joseph 0 Grace2 2 Sticky Sam1 1 Shane Andrew2 1Lucy Emilia 2 2Sarah* James 1 1 Tarryn Ross* 2
*Sarah and Ross did not complete the Road Block and each took a four hour penalty.
1DonnaKym1 2SueTeresa0 0AdamDane0
PIT STOP Archaeological Museum Istanbul, Turkey
1st Paul & Steve +5 2nd Michelle & Jo +2 3rd Sticky & Sam-1 4th Joseph & Grace -1 5th Shane & Andrew = 6th Lucy & Emilia +2 7th James & Sarah -6 8th Ross & Tarryn -1
Lucy & Emilia – They broke their 2nd to last streak, but they’re still in the Race. They were still hanging by a thread, but it was not as thin this leg as it has been. Good that they realize the need for them to start running instead of walking.Â
Paul & Steve – They recovered nicely this leg and finally backed up all their talk. They get kudos, especially Paul for easily taking care of the Road Block and apparently the counting side of the Detour. Paul could probably keep the bitch face to a minimum and instead show the others up by competing like they did this leg. This is the kind of leg you’d expect from two alpha males and finally a leg that backs up their (or Paul’s) bravado.
Sarah & James – Still hilarious! Except for their unfortunate quitting, they had an enjoyable leg. They didn’t perform as well as last leg, especially with Sarah giving up at the Road Block when she was so close to finishing, but they brought the entertainment. Â
Michelle & Jo – Another solid leg for them. They’ve been very consistent and Racing very well. They’re staying out the drama and concentrating on themselves and their hair. That bodes well for their future prospects in the Race.
Sticky & Sam – They sit back when others teams have drama and focus on their own Race. That’s a good strategy. And they’re maintaining their consistent Race so far as well.
Tarryn & Ross – It was a tough Road Block, but like in last leg, I am surprised to see how easily they quit. In the first few legs they showed the complete opposite. And now for two legs, they seem like they’re barely in the Race anymore. I hope they can pick it up and survive next leg.
Shane & Andrew – They’re moving along in the middle of the pack. They probably wasted their U-Turn though. And they haven’t gotten themselves out of the middle yet. And sooner or later last place is going to catch up to them.
Joseph & Grace – I’m never a fan of teams who instigate trouble. Just like Art & JJ in TAR20, Grace trying to get a rise out of Paul, then getting upset when he gets upset at her? I don’t get it. Grace might actually turn out to be the Vanessa of TARAu2 with Joseph being the Ralph. And that’s not a great comparison at all.
Quotes from Episode 2.05
Ross: “Limes are like little lemons.” Tarryn: “I know what a lime is daddy, are you for real?!”
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