Amazing Race - Season 35

Thursday night, Sharon and I finished watching season thirty-five of the Amazing Race. With a passion for traveling, I have enjoyed watching the Amazing Race over the last few years. We finished season 32 in January of 2021, season 33 in March of 2022 and season 34 in December of 2022.

Filming for season 35 began on June 13, 2023 in Los Angeles. Slovenia was visited for the first time in the entire franchise. Filming concluded in Seattle on July 8, 2023. The season premiered on September 27, 2023.

This season returned to using commercial flights instead of charter flights as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic on two previous seasons and season 36. Season 36 which premieres March 13, 2024 was actually filmed before this season in late 2022 and was pushed back following the decision to have 90-minute episodes.

Elements of the show that also returned this season include the Express Pass (last seen in season 29) and the U-Turn (last seen in season 32) in the form of a voting U-Turn, which was previously utilized as a one off-twist on season 31. The Scramble, which was introduced in the 34th season, also returned but was included in the final leg rather than the first leg.

Brothers and computer scientists Greg and John Franklin were the winners of this season, while best friends Joel Strasser and Garrett Smith finished in second place, and father and son Rob and Corey McArthur finished in third place. Sharon and I were rooting for the father and son and against the best friends.

The legs of the race included:

• Leg 1 (United States → Thailand)
• Leg 2 (Thailand)
• Leg 3 (Thailand → Vietnam)
• Leg 4 (Vietnam)
• Leg 5 (Vietnam → India)
• Leg 6 (India)
• Leg 7 (India → Germany)
• Leg 8 (Germany → Austria → Slovenia)
• Leg 9 (Slovenia)
• Leg 10 (Slovenia → Austria → Sweden)
• Leg 11 (Sweden → Ireland)
• Leg 12 (Ireland → United States)

Sharon and I were particularly excited by this season because it included Slovenia. Our Crossroads of the Adriatic trip with the Wongs in September '24 includes: Croatia; Montenegro; Bosnia & Herzegovina, and; Slovenia. We are going to several spots that they highlighted on the show. Additionally, we are planning to visit Sweden in July on our Viking Homelands cruise!