The Amazing Race Season 9 Episode 3 I Am in Russia Playing with the Dolls

The ninth season of The Amazing Race continues with the third episode titled "I Am in Russia Playing With the Dolls." In this episode, the remaining ten teams depart from the pit stop in Germany and head to Moscow, Russia, where they face a series of challenges that test their physical strength, teamwork, and intelligence.

As the teams arrive in Moscow, they are instructed to travel to the Red Square, one of the most iconic landmarks in Russia. Once there, they have to search for a clue hidden among hundreds of traditional Russian nesting dolls scattered around the square. The clue directs the teams to take a taxi to a local garage, where they are given their first detour.

The detour presents the teams with two choices: "Stacked Up" or "Strung Out." In "Stacked Up," teams have to transport bundles of hay from one side of a farm to another and stack them into a neat pile. The catch is that they have to carry the bundles on a traditional Russian wooden sled, known as a troika. In "Strung Out," teams have to learn how to play the balalaika, a traditional Russian stringed instrument, and perform a simple folk song in front of a group of spectators.

After completing the detour, the teams have to figure out the next destination: the Luzhniki Stadium, where they are presented with their second detour. The choices are "Bread" or "Circus." In "Bread," teams have to bake a loaf of bread from scratch using traditional Russian ingredients and methods. In "Circus," teams have to learn a simple clown routine and perform it in front of a live audience.

The final clue directs the teams to the Novospasskiy Monastery, where they face the roadblock. One team member has to put on a traditional Russian costume and learn a sequence of complex dance steps, known as the troika, before performing it in front of a group of judges.

The team that completes the challenge successfully and reaches the pit stop first wins the leg and a prize. The team that arrives last faces elimination from the race.

"I Am in Russia Playing With the Dolls" is a challenging episode that tests the teams' endurance, patience, and cultural awareness. From searching for clues among hundreds of nesting dolls to performing a Russian folk dance, the race continues to push the teams to their limits. With only ten teams remaining, the competition is fierce, and every mistake can mean the difference between winning and losing.