There are two aspects of AR11 episode 1 that have plagued recent races - begging and taxis hired to lead racers. Two of the CBS videos shed some light on this. In one, Rob and Amber tell a Chicago area couple in a bookstore in Miami airport that they have no money(can't be true; see what Charla and Mirna say below) and that they are in a race and cannot beg them for the money to buy this $35 book on Eduador that they need, but will the couple please buy it for them (which they do). We now that in Quito Rob and Amber pay a taxi to lead them to Cotopaxi National Park. We later learn that there is an entrance fee of $10 (not clear if per person or vehicle) to the park.
Charla and Mirna asked a local in Quito to guide them and when they saw how it was impacting him to do so (bus fare back, etc.) they gave him all their money. When they got to the park entrance they had none for the park entrance fee but a tourist bus was there at the same time so they begged for it.
Which is it? Did the producers change the rules to eliminate begging or not? If they did, where is the enforcement and penalties?
Either way, seeing the use of a taxi leading Rob and Amber to victory was totally pathetic. I only hope that a lack of money in leg 4 proves to be his undoing.
apskip
Well, I think we can safely say that Rob mostly ikely did lie about not having money. We have to assume that the 49.00 they got for the leg was in their packet at the starting line (eric & Danielle say 49 at the Pit stop on camera insider clips, JV & Jill say 48 months later in interviews, I would stick withte recolection from later that day). They needed taht money to be able to pay for cabs out of the airport.
But, it is possible that Rob & was telling the truth about a limitation of begging.
2 real possabilities.
1. Not being allowed to beg in the US airports (In the past teams could, but it is possible that over the years this has changed). After all there is no beenfit for Rob not to just ask for money. Teams can usually manage more tehn that if they push while begging.
2. It might be that the limitation is for the whole race, that teams can beg, but they can't directly recieve money from locals.
Rob begged for him to buy him a book. Still begging, but no money went into Rob's hands.
When Charla & Mirna begged for the 10 for the park entrance fee, it is possible that they did the same. Had one of the people they were begging from (or a group) hold the money until enough was collected that a local could purchase the pass and give it to them.
So we will have to wait for more episodes to see if there is a general new rule limiting how teams can beg.
Personally I hope so.
The producers did say they were making it harder for teams to pay for escorts, that could certainly be one of the possible ways.