A Very Lucky Girl

Welcome to Tuscany! The land of pizza, pasta, prosecco and off-the-shoulder shirts. The women take in the leaning tower of Pisa before encountering Chris Harrison to learn that this week will not culminate in a rose ceremony. Instead, there will be 3 one on one dates and a group date where roses will be handed out. It's the week before hometowns and Arie needs to decide which parents he'd rather face.  They check into the Renaissance Italy and find the first date card:  Becca K, let's fall in love under the Tuscan sun.  Apparently not one to learn a lesson from the car debacle in Paris, Arie pulls up in a vintage red car. Fortunately for him, this one runs, and they head to Barga in search of their missing passion. After wrecking cars back in American and footing Jenna's open bar bill, ABC is strapped for cash so there is nothing fancy planned for Becca's date. Instead, they plan to walk around and maybe have a picnic.  After strolling through alleys and purcha...

Lackluster Arie is back with 15 girlfriends. Bekah kicks off her morning with a swim in the Bachelor Mansion pool that contains an abundance of chlorine to combat the various strains of herpes floating around from seasons past. The other women chat indoors about Bekah's notorious age, which is a not so subtle hint that Arie will learn her mysterious age this episode.  Chris Harrison pops in, decked out in his travel button down to reveal that there will not be a date in LA today. Instead, they are leaving the mansion and heading to Tahoe!  Arie arrives ahead of the gang and checks into the 5-star, luxurious...Hard Rock Hotel and Casino? I guess we know who sponsored this episode. Arie muses that traveling and experiencing new things helps to create a bond. I tend to agree, except generally it helps when ABC isn't footing the bill for all of the adventures.  The girls check into an AirBnB in the woods and Kendall enters nirvana as she exclaims over all of the stuffed...

Confession: I'm feeling truly let down by Arie and ABC this Bachelor season. Arie has zero swag, often has self-tanner smeared on the sides of his face, and I'm not particularly attracted to him. But the recaps must go on and the good news for Arie is that Krystal and her baby voice are all about him.  If you remember, we left off last rose ceremony with everyone hating Krystal, Bibiana most of all. The morning after, the ladies are physically and emotionally drained and 60% of the group are rocking prescription eye wear.  Chris Harrison strolls in, does some quick addition, and announces there are 18 ladies remaining. Time is precious, take advantage of it. Krystal nods sagely. This week there will be 2 group dates and 1 one on one date.  Group Date Card: Maquel, Jacqueline, Lauren B, Tia, Marikh, Bekah, Bibiana, Krystal--it's all about the ring.  The women quickly come to the conclusion it must be in reference to boxing or wresting. Jacqueline cowers in fea...