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rabid1stEight teams have taken up the challenge to travel the world in pursuit of glory and 1 Million Smackaroos* and have gathered on the deck of the THE MAID OF THE MIST** beneath the thunder of Niagara Falls. During the next 12 weeks, these teams will find themselves tested by the elements, tantalized by diverse cultural experiences and plagued by my sense of the perverse.
In the end there will be only one team with the will, determination and creativity to win...8 teams...15 Countries...Several Weeks...One Virtual Amazing Race...
CUE THEME MUSIC...AND LET'S MEET THE TEAMS
1. Aeryn Sun from Farscape and Dana Scully of the X-Files
2. Kwik-E-Mart Owner Apu and Marge Simpson from the Simpsons
3. Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Xena, the Warrior Princess
4. Ash of the Evil Dead Movies and Iolaus of Hercules
5. Drusilla and Anya Jenkins of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6. Harry Kim and Seven of Nine (K/7 to their friends) of Voyager
7. Aragon from Lord of the Rings and Carson from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
8. Severus Snape of Hogwarts and Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean
FADE THEME MUSIC
On this leg of the Virtual Amazing Race, teams must make their way from NIAGARA FALLS, NY to beautiful Barcelona, Spain.
Once they arrive in Spain they must immediately navigate through the city by taxi to the train station and travel 6 hours by train to the picturesque town of Pamplona.
Coincidentally, teams will arrive just in time to take part in The Fiesta de San Fermin.
DETOUR: Holy Cow or Holy Water
A detour is a choice between two tasks...each with its own pros and cons. In this DETOUR, teams must choose between Holy Cow...and Holy Water.
In HOLY COW...both members of the team must pick out a location along the traditional MARKED COURSE and "run the Bulls." Several of the bulls will have yellow and red clue packets tied to their horns. To retrieve a clue teams will need skill and daring as the bulls are wild and unpredictable. Those teams who are fleet of foot and have a bit of luck may enjoy the thrill of this Annual Rite of the Manly Men. There is an element of danger, as the bloody history of this event shows, but the task will be over (one way or the other) very quickly.
In HOLY WATER...team members must locate the famous Gothic Cathedral that dominates Pamplona and obtain a vial of blessed water from the Cathedral's font. Then they must carry the open vial through the crowded and boisterous streets of Pamplona asking directions from strangers until they locate the Fountain of St. Cecilia where a newer tradition has started up. Once they reach the fountain they must pour their vial into the waters to bless one of the many divers. The diver (should he survive his leap of faith) will give the team their clue. This task will be relatively safe for the contestants...but finding the Cathedral and then the Fountain could take a very long time.
When all teams have a clue in hand...and team camera crews have reported in with sketchy or complete details of their trip...(i.e. Next Thursday) I will reveal the next destination on our trip around the world...good luck to you all!!
*Virtual Money
**Best Viewed With FLASH and speakers turned on!
In the end there will be only one team with the will, determination and creativity to win...8 teams...15 Countries...Several Weeks...One Virtual Amazing Race...
CUE THEME MUSIC...AND LET'S MEET THE TEAMS
1. Aeryn Sun from Farscape and Dana Scully of the X-Files
2. Kwik-E-Mart Owner Apu and Marge Simpson from the Simpsons
3. Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean and Xena, the Warrior Princess
4. Ash of the Evil Dead Movies and Iolaus of Hercules
5. Drusilla and Anya Jenkins of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6. Harry Kim and Seven of Nine (K/7 to their friends) of Voyager
7. Aragon from Lord of the Rings and Carson from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
8. Severus Snape of Hogwarts and Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean
FADE THEME MUSIC
On this leg of the Virtual Amazing Race, teams must make their way from NIAGARA FALLS, NY to beautiful Barcelona, Spain.
Once they arrive in Spain they must immediately navigate through the city by taxi to the train station and travel 6 hours by train to the picturesque town of Pamplona.
Coincidentally, teams will arrive just in time to take part in The Fiesta de San Fermin.
DETOUR: Holy Cow or Holy Water
A detour is a choice between two tasks...each with its own pros and cons. In this DETOUR, teams must choose between Holy Cow...and Holy Water.
In HOLY COW...both members of the team must pick out a location along the traditional MARKED COURSE and "run the Bulls." Several of the bulls will have yellow and red clue packets tied to their horns. To retrieve a clue teams will need skill and daring as the bulls are wild and unpredictable. Those teams who are fleet of foot and have a bit of luck may enjoy the thrill of this Annual Rite of the Manly Men. There is an element of danger, as the bloody history of this event shows, but the task will be over (one way or the other) very quickly.
In HOLY WATER...team members must locate the famous Gothic Cathedral that dominates Pamplona and obtain a vial of blessed water from the Cathedral's font. Then they must carry the open vial through the crowded and boisterous streets of Pamplona asking directions from strangers until they locate the Fountain of St. Cecilia where a newer tradition has started up. Once they reach the fountain they must pour their vial into the waters to bless one of the many divers. The diver (should he survive his leap of faith) will give the team their clue. This task will be relatively safe for the contestants...but finding the Cathedral and then the Fountain could take a very long time.
When all teams have a clue in hand...and team camera crews have reported in with sketchy or complete details of their trip...(i.e. Next Thursday) I will reveal the next destination on our trip around the world...good luck to you all!!
*Virtual Money
**Best Viewed With FLASH and speakers turned on!
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-28 09:26 pm (UTC)Since I will be in Atlanta until Wednesday, my team may just be sneaking in under the wire on this one!
(no subject)
Date: 2003-08-28 10:36 pm (UTC)here or our LJ's?
Sun
We'll take Holy Water, Alex!
Date: 2003-09-04 09:14 pm (UTC)Seven argued that since she had detailed maps of the area stored in her cortical node, it would be far more efficient to obtain the Holy water and not risk unnecessary injury.
Harry pouted, but followed Seven as she navigated the small streets unerringly. They arrived at the fountain with the water.
Seven looked around at the selection of divers and ran an appraising eye over them. She felt detailed study would be required to determine the diver with the highest probability of success. With that intent, she began to 'examine' two of the divers in detail, prodding their muscular arms and chests with her fingers.
The divers reacted badly when Harry pulled the tall blond off of them. After a small altercation, Harry poured the water into the fountain and the two of them watched their diver.
When he emerged from the water he picked up a clue and took it over to Seven. Harry started to step in the way, but the diver insisted on giving it to Seven directly...
The could be heard arguing later - Harry insisting that Seven was being inefficient, Seven arguing on the contrary that it was an excellent opportunity to study primitive human males in their natural environment. Voyager was, after all, all about scientific exploration.
Adventures of a Dark Wizard and a Governor's Daughter
Date: 2003-09-06 08:36 pm (UTC)"I believe that is against the rules, Mr. Snape."
"That's Professor Snape, Miss Swan." Taking her arm he guides her towards a line of taxis. "We shall need to fly in one of this metal tubes with wings."
"Perhaps I can learn this apparation business," she mutters as she slides into the taxi, skirts bunching in her lap.
Snape follows her in. "Highly unlikely. And you shall have to find more appropriate clothing."
Miss Swan glances down at her silk and lace dress. "'Tis the height of fashion."
"If you pass out due to that medieval torture device you're wearing around your middle, do not expect me to stop and revive you."
Glares are exchanged all the way to the nearest airport.
At the airport, the discussion of fashion continues. "We are going to Spain. 'Tis hot in Spain. Perhaps you, in your vestments, shall be the one to pass out."
Snape looks up from their tickets through Newark to Barcelona. "Vestments?" He looks down at his black pants, shirt, coat, tie...You get the picture. "I am a dark wizard, girl. This is what dark wizards wear."
Miss Swan covers her snickering with a delicate cough.
During the flight to Newark, Miss Swan spends half the time praying and half the time marveling at every little thing.
On the trans-Atlantic flight, Professor Snape mixes up a quick sleeping potion and knocks her out mid-babbling about barf bags.
"That was a dirty trick," she snaps as he helps her off the plane in Barcelona. "Save the rest to use on our competitors."
He cocks an eyebrow at her comment. "Hm, perhaps this will be a more satisfying partnership than I first imagined, Miss Swan."
She takes his offered arm and gives him a sweet smile. "Have you ever been a'pirating, Professor? You have the look."
During the long train ride they play something called 'exploding snap' which, much to Snape's annoyance, Miss Swan wins more than she loses, forcing him to surrender the majority of his collection of mints and toffees. He does persuade her to change into something she can move in, and she returns from the restroom wearing a pair of skin-tight navy knee pants, a billowy white shirt under a navy and red brocade vest, and black knee boots.
"Will this do?"
About ten minutes later most of the men in the compartment manage to find their tongues.
"We can always use you to distract the men on the other teams," Snape grouses, as Miss Swan flirts.
In Pamplona they reach the first detour and read the card.
"Wonderful. Gored or bored."
Miss Swan rolls her eyes dramatically. "Oh, come Professor, t'will be exciting. And it's traditionally only something men do. I much enjoy doing the things men do."
"We could just buy a bottle of water and I could turn it into Holy Water."
"Are you going to try to cheat on every leg?"
"Most likely."
She grabs his arm and tugs him towards the course of the bull run, asking people in mangled Spanish where the best place to start the run will be.
"Mercaderas Street sounds the best bet. Come on!"
"If you get us killed, Miss Swan, I shall turn you into something quite vile."
She grins and drags him into position just as the bulls are released.
Somehow they both survive with only minor scrapes and bruises, Miss Swan having bravely leaped into the fray and snatched a clue at the first sight of one. As she opens the envelope, Snape opens his satchel and begins to apply various salves to their wounds.
"I have a feeling I'm going to run out of healing potions with your recklessness, Miss Swan."
"But just who got the clue, Professor Snape?" She twinkles her eyes at him and he sighs heavily.
"You couldn't choose Potter for this adventure, could you. He'd look very nice on the horn of a bull."
The King and the Queen
Date: 2003-09-11 12:49 am (UTC)The mist of the falls kept leaving these droplets on my camera, but I could see the two of them clearly enough. Them. Aragorn of Arathorn, and Carson – the fashion guy. To say that they’re a mismatch is an understatement. Aragorn was covered in dirt and had blood on his hands, was wearing leather. He has a big sword and he’s named it. Of course, the biggest sin to Carson is that Aragorn’s clothes are boring, and “chainmail is so five centuries ago”. Carson was wearing pink and I think I saw him carrying a manbag. Yes, I was thinking exactly what you’re thinking.
While waiting to receive their first instructions, I heard them chatting. Well, I heard Carson chatting, Aragorn was staring off in the distance looking vaguely constipated.
“So, what do you think they’ll put under our names when they show us on tv? You know… ‘dating twelve years/virgins’ doesn’t really apply in our case. I was thinking ‘complete strangers thrown together by fate/Queer Eye and Straight Guy’ or ‘men adrift on the sea of life/… slash what, though?”
“We are a fellowship on a journey to save middle earth. You are not frightened enough.”
“Right because the other teams are gonna get us. I’m terrified. Did you see that woman with blue hair and sort of orangish skin? That cannot be healthy. Mmmm… but did you see that swishy swashbuckler with the eyeliner?
“Eyeliner is a sign of evil.”
“No, no, it’s delicious. Oh! I’ve got it! We are - the King and the Queen!”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Carson shot me a smile and a wink and started looking over my clothing. I was saved from fashion tips, at least for the moment, by the entrance of our host. Instructions were given and we were off. Getting to the airport is easy. Getting plane tickets? Easy. Getting on the plane? Not so easy.
Aragorn has this sword, as I have mentioned. He’s very attached. He’s named it and says that he went into this mountain and faced all these trials to have it reforged. It’s a sword full of destiny. For some reason, the security people at the gate didn’t feel the same way. Carson had to use all his influence to get Aragorn to give up his weapon… the only way he could convince him was by making sure Aragorn understood that if it came down to it, he had a curling iron in his carryon that could be used as a weapon in a pinch.
While on the flight Carson finally gave in to his need to make Aragorn over.
“The look is just not good. Chain mail? And what are you wearing on your wrists? What kind of bracelet goes to your elbow? You’re not Britney Spears with a sock on your arm, you can’t get away with this look. Even if it’s an S&M fashion statement, let’s keep the whips and chains for our bedroom, honey. Why not try some pink? It’d look fabulous with your skin tone.” Carson held his shirt up to Aragorn’s face. “This shirt, this shirt would look fabulous on you.”
“That shirt was created for one purpose. To destroy the world of men.”
“I think you’re being a bit dramatic, don’t you?”
But Carson left it for the moment.
The King and the Queen, part 2
Date: 2003-09-11 12:50 am (UTC)“Excuse me, does anyone here speak English? You know, Aragorn, I had a Hispanic boyfriend once, but he didn’t teach me things like ‘take me to the train station’. Although, he did say ‘take me’ quite a lot…”
Aragorn was not amused. Carson went back to trying to hail a cab.
“Does anyone speak English or Elvish?
Once an English-speaking cab driver had been found they needed to convince him to allow himself to be taped. The part of the race that involves ‘pay me more money to appear on camera’ always seems to be deleted. However, instead of that in this situation, Aragorn showed a little sword and off we went.
The train was boring and consisted of the pair discussing whether or not they should form an alliance - they came out of it still undecided but Carson was very into meeting that swishy pirate and Aragorn would never admit it, but I saw him looking at the tall, blackhaired woman who was getting very frustrated because her partner (the one with the cell phone attached to her ear) couldn’t understand a word she was saying.
Detour:
“Bulls.”
“Bulls? We are not running with bulls. That involves dirt. And potential blood. Red does not go with my outfit, honey.”
“If you go with me to run with the bulls, I will wear that shirt.”
“Sold.”
The actual running went off fairly easily. Carson, keeping in mind that blood dries to an even more unattractive rust color than the original red, ran like the wind and ended up clinging to a light post halfway through the course. Aragorn, being a little showier, ended up swinging onto the back of a bull and actually rode it past one of the bulls with a clue, grabbing it and then leapt off his bull landing at the side. I don’t mind telling you, I was just a little bit gay for him in that moment.
Aragorn looped back through the crowd and saved Carson from his light pole. They opened the clue.