Topic: The Amazing Race 16 Destinations/Locations

[georgiapeach]

It is sad. And seeing that he probably suffers from sort of a pituitary problem causung gigantism, and has skeletal problems, both slowhatch and I thought it seems rather cruel to have him waiting for hours there in the cold.

[ZBC Company]

is a herdsman from Inner Mongolia, China, who was recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the world's tallest living men.

[redwings8831]

is a herdsman from Inner Mongolia, China, who was recognized by Guinness World Records as one of the world's tallest living men.

Yes, I saw that word for word in wikipedia also.

[Caelestor]

The penultimate leg takes place at night. Sound familiar?

This means two legs in Shanghai, right?

[georgiapeach]

This means two legs in Shanghai, right?

Yes...refer to the Timeline thread for that discussion...

[georgiapeach]

It never rains but it pours....having an interesting spoiler day!!

Back on Dec 2, there was a FB post that said:

ran into the Amazing Race today on the way to Bariloche, gave a team my map, now i don't know where the *** i am. December 2, 2009 at 6:46pm

I promptly wrote him, asked about the where/when/what/who of the sighting, and then never heard back.

Turns out that is becasuse he is on the road on a fabulous round the world journey...

Anyway,  just got a message that his blog had been updated with a description of the events and two photos. So enjoy!!

Santiago was cool, but still a big city and only having a week left in South America, i wanted to see some Patagonia.  I looked into flights to El Calafate but they were supes expensive, so i went to the Bus station and hopped on a bus going south. On this bus was a camera crew and pairs of Americans that seemed to be working in teams.  A guy from one of the teams came to the back of the bus and asked if anyone spoke english.  Well next thing i know, he surreptitiously starts talking to me and asks if i knew where we were, where we were going, if i could change some currency for them and if i had any maps they could have.  Hmmmmmm putting 2 and 2 together i realized i was on a bus with the Amazing Race.  Well i helped the team, which was a father and daughter from SoCal, out as much as i could until they were off running, chased by cameras, looking for their rental car parked along some random st.  Bariloche is where i ended up and where i stayed till it was time to head back to Santiago for my flight to New Zealand.  It’s an picturesque mtn town nestled amongst lakes, forests, and peaks in the lakes district of Argentina, and the weather there was spectacular. 

There is a pic of Steve and Alli I believe, and one of a group of racers looking as though they are rearranging their gear...

Will link to the blog and the pics...it is halfway down the 1/24 post!!

Thanks jebber!!

http://earthtojebber.com/


So....Teams travel by bus Santiago to Bariloche on 12/2..... or somewhere in between?? Slowhatch has pointed out that while Jebber went to Bariloche, teams could have exited before hand. per slowhatch, there doesn't seem to be any direct lines Santiago-Bariloche; bus passengers connect to another service in Osorno or Puerto Montt and make the final leg to Bariloche.

[Chateau d If]

[ Notice all the minders they have on the ridgeline watching for outsiders. Chateau. 

Fixed. 

Thanks for the location!! 

 

[georgiapeach]

So....Teams travel by bus Santiago to Bariloche on 12/2..... or somewhere in between?? Slowhatch has pointed out that while Jebber went to Bariloche, teams could have exited before hand. per slowhatch, there doesn't seem to be any direct lines Santiago-Bariloche; bus passengers connect to another service in Osorno or Puerto Montt and make the final leg to Bariloche.

More great info from jebber!!  again!!

Cool Thanks, yeah the pick is of everyone grabbing their gear, teams and camera crews, as they were dropped off about an hour out of Bariloche. We were on a bus coming from Osorno. I think they were dropped around Villa de la Angostra, and they had to end up at some Bar called the Old Joint (although it must be a nickname cuz i couldnt find it). Their team was supposedly not doing too well. The Dad was Smitty, and him and his daughter were from San Diego. She goes to Pepperdine University. Thats all i remember.. oh and something about a poker game
Ciao

[apskip]

It never rains but it pours....having an interesting spoiler day!!

Back on Dec 2, there was a FB post that said:

ran into the Amazing Race today on the way to Bariloche, gave a team my map, now i don't know where the *** i am. December 2, 2009 at 6:46pm

I promptly wrote him, asked about the where/when/what/who of the sighting, and then never heard back.

Turns out that is becasuse he is on the road on a fabulous round the world journey...

Anyway,  just got a message that his blog had been updated with a description of the events and two photos. So enjoy!!

Santiago was cool, but still a big city and only having a week left in South America, i wanted to see some Patagonia.  I looked into flights to El Calafate but they were supes expensive, so i went to the Bus station and hopped on a bus going south. On this bus was a camera crew and pairs of Americans that seemed to be working in teams.  A guy from one of the teams came to the back of the bus and asked if anyone spoke english.  Well next thing i know, he surreptitiously starts talking to me and asks if i knew where we were, where we were going, if i could change some currency for them and if i had any maps they could have.  Hmmmmmm putting 2 and 2 together i realized i was on a bus with the Amazing Race.  Well i helped the team, which was a father and daughter from SoCal, out as much as i could until they were off running, chased by cameras, looking for their rental car parked along some random st.  Bariloche is where i ended up and where i stayed till it was time to head back to Santiago for my flight to New Zealand.  It’s an picturesque mtn town nestled amongst lakes, forests, and peaks in the lakes district of Argentina, and the weather there was spectacular.  

There is a pic of Steve and Alli I believe, and one of a group of racers looking as though they are rearranging their gear...

Will link to the blog and the pics...it is halfway down the 1/24 post!!

Thanks jebber!!

http://earthtojebber.com/


So....Teams travel by bus Santiago to Bariloche on 12/2..... or somewhere in between?? Slowhatch has pointed out that while Jebber went to Bariloche, teams could have exited before hand. per slowhatch, there doesn't seem to be any direct lines Santiago-Bariloche; bus passengers connect to another service in Osorno or Puerto Montt and make the final leg to Bariloche.

Peach,
Note that jebber said "Bariloche is where I ended up." and that he does not say that teams were on the bus the entire way. Such a bus would have logically on from Puerto Varas to Puerto Montt and that up and over Andes mountain passes by road. I agree with your "or somewhere in between" comment and believe that Puerto Varas is that place. It was there in my opinion that teams switched transportation mode and went by the Andean Lake Crossing route, with local buses on either end connecting with the majority of that crossing on lakes. This is speculation on my part but it fits perfectly.

[redskevin88]

It is sad. And seeing that he probably suffers from sort of a pituitary problem causung gigantism, and has skeletal problems, both slowhatch and I thought it seems rather cruel to have him waiting for hours there in the cold.

I think they usually set up the mat only seconds/minutes when the teams arrive... I remember Allan Wu saying that he had to race a team to the pit stop to get there first because they were so fast.

[apskip]

Peach:

I have been motivated to check into the geography between Osorno and Puerto Varas and Bariloche in more detail. There are 4 bus companies that list services to Bariloche from Santiago, Osorno or Puerto Varas. I can only get online information for one of them, Tas Choapa, and it lists daily buses from Osorno at 10am and 1030am and from Puerto Varas (run started in Puerto Montt) at 840am. Presumably Cruz del Sur, Condor and Pullman each also have one bus daily.

The route from Osorno goes east through Puyehue, crosses the border and then the first significant Argentinian place it hits is Villa La Angostura. Teams could go up Cerro Bayo (covered previously and known for its adventure tourism). That would be an ideal place to have the tandem paragliding that lands in Lake Nahuel Huapi. From Villa la Angostura it is a modest distance to Bariloche.

Now we get to the problem of conflicting eyewitness information. In the summary on page 1 of the Timelines thread, pudding lists:

PIT STOP: Grotto of Lourdes, Puerto Varas
EVIDENCE: Teams photographed at pit stop

That was based on earlier information which I believe to be still true. If teams took the bus from Osorno east into Argentina as above, then they could not have any stop or pit stop in Puerto Varas as they would never be within 75miles of Puerto Varas. If they did have a pit stop in Puerto Varas, then they still could get to Villa la Angostura after going from Puerto Varas to Bariloche (as identified in some of my earlier posts). Which version do you want to believe?

[DavidJunior]

Maybe the team(s) was/were doing bad because they got bad information and were told to head over to Osorno before making their way to  Bariloche and Villa La Angostura by locals.  And they were on his bus from Osorno to Bariloche, and got off when they hit Villa La Angostura.   Becuase his info was also coming after leg 2 presumably ended. 

[chill_sd]

It appears that the buses from Puerto Varas go through Osorno and Villa la Angostura on the way to Bariloche.

It's possible that they had a task in Angostura (possibly involving bitters) before the pit stop in Bariloche.

[Uncle Bill]

 I found this blog didn't know if anyone found it before but it say the farm they stay on will be on amazing race in feb. I couldn't get it to move to the forum som maybe you can if you feel it is info we need. Its from grand central travel site. Thanks

   
December Chile-Argentina trip Published date: January 05, 2010
Traveler: Lorenzo from San Francisco, CA traveled on December 21, 2009
Enjoyed this trip. Unlike most of the reviewers, I liked Santiago a lot and thought it had lots to offer. The people are lovely and it's a clean city. The Moneda Cultural Center, Neruda house would have been a good additon to the program. Don't miss Valparaiso, it should definitely be part of the Santiago program and not an option. Hint: the commuter buses go there from the Alameda train station every 15 minutes for about $15 round trip. The country is totally safe and clean.

Marco, our tour guide is the absolute best. They should clone this guy. Thoughtful, entertaining, flexible and able to respond to anything with grace and calm. Puerto Varas seemed like a wasted visit to me - the hotel was shabby. The rodeo and german museum visits were good, but the lake crossing for a lunch and short walk seemed pointless if you are not going to go all the way to Bariloche. Bariloche was beautiful but windy and cold - bring not just "layers" but a heavy coat, gloves, scarf, thermal undewear. The young sheep farm host was hilarious and the farm will be featured on the Amazing Race in February. Buenos Aires was great - gorgeous world class city, great for walking. Tango dinner show was so-so, but the tango class was great and the lecture on politics was outstanding. They need to get some younger folks or families for the home hosted dinner. Don't miss the Museum of Fine Arts near that gorgeous stainless steel floral sculpture - it's free and filled with amzing works by European and South American masters. Try not to do this trip over Christmas - everything is closed in Santiago and BA over the holidays all the locals are gone, and theater, museums and restaurants are closed or hard to book. Overall, a recommended trip for the US winter (and their summer) and a good value.
 

[georgiapeach]

We already have that Uncle bill...but thanks! puddin found it first back in December, the repost is here:

http://forum.realityfanforum.com/index.php/topic,21253.msg508098.html#msg508098

[apskip]

It appears that the buses from Puerto Varas go through Osorno and Villa la Angostura on the way to Bariloche.

It's possible that they had a task in Angostura (possibly involving bitters) before the pit stop in Bariloche.

chill_sd,
It is possible that teams went north from Puerto Varas to Osorno to then east to Villa Angostura instead of directly east from Puerto Vaaras to get to Bariloche. However, if you look at a road map of Argentina you would conclude that WRP would not send teams an extra 120 miles to go via Osorno. It was (and is) summer in Chile so there should be no problematic local road conditions on either route.

I think teams did have a task in Villa de Angostura, doing the condor/birdman tandem paragliding. Cerro Bayo is one of the few spots where you could get the equipment up high enough for a decent launch. Now, if that was the case, then you could subtract about 100 miles for a net of about 20 extra to go to Villa de Angostura via Bariloche.

If there is a task involving Angostura bitters, it would be a fluke as Angostura bitters only manufacturing facility is on the island of Trinidad in the Caribbean. They share only the name Angostura with Villa de Angostura.

[chill_sd]

chill_sd,
It is possible that teams went north from Puerto Varas to Osorno to then east to Villa Angostura instead of directly east from Puerto Vaaras to get to Bariloche. However, if you look at a road map of Argentina you would conclude that WRP would not send teams an extra 120 miles to go via Osorno. It was (and is) summer in Chile so there should be no problematic local road conditions on either route.

I will, of course bow to your expertise in these matters, apskip.  The maps I have been able to find do not show a route East out of Puerto Varas or Puerto Montt accross the Andes to Bariloche.  The simplest solution I could find was to go North to Route 215, then continue on to Route 231 in Argentina.

The few bus schedules I was able to locate seemed to indicate that buses from Puerto Veras/Puerto Montt passed through or made connections in Osorno.  And since Jebber's bus from Santiago also made a connection in Orsono, it all seemed to fit the timeline.

It's going to be interesting to see how all this fits together when the episode airs.

You are also correct about the connection (or lack thereof) between Villa la Angostura and Angostura™ Bitters (which was supposed to be tongue-in-cheek, but I forgot to put in a smilie).  It's just curious that they were supposedly looking for a bar.

Perhaps the task will have something to do with narowness (literal translation of "angostura" )

[georgiapeach]

Anybody having any luck with "old Joint" ??

[DavidJunior]

i still think that Steve and Allie (along with at least one other team) took the wrong bus and had to use the unneeded Osorno connection, and just happened to be on the same connection as this Jebber guy.

I have some doubts that WRP would out right tell teams which bus to take.  You know, let teams figure things out for themselves.  And if teams took the long way, then too bad for those teams.  Sort of like the flights.  Only in specific cases are teams told which flight they have to take.

[georgiapeach]

Did you see the picture?? Multiple teams...

[DavidJunior]

maybe a bunch of teams came to the same conclusion?

and then found out that they were on the wrong bus?

[jerseydude]

maybe a bunch of teams came to the same conclusion?

and then found out that they were on the wrong bus?

Could it be that this was faster than a direct bus sort of like TAR2, which the Grannies and some other teams went through Sao Paulo rather than direct.

[Hooky]

Did you see the picture?? Multiple teams...

It looks like about 3 or 4 teams with their camera crews...it's entirely possible the rest of the teams took a different option.

[georgiapeach]

Or a different bus.

[Hooky]

Or a different bus.

That's what I meant. Has it been a long day for you, peach?