It’s episode two of Rush Australia 2023 and the contestants find themselves in Istanbul, dropped into the Suleymaniye Mosque with nothing but the sound of a call to prayer.

It’s six in the morning and the entire town is up, scattered around in the different churches.

“You just had goosebumps, it was just an amazing feeling to think where we were at that particular time,” Fiona says.

Team Gold’s Saxon guesses that they were in Istanbul before a clue is sent via smartwatch message.

“A chamber of water, the largest of its kind. A cistern beneath the city, ready for you to find.” 

Once again, Saxon figures it out, saying that it’s referring to the Basilica Cistern. After rattling off facts and figures, it turned out that he had extensively researched the Ottoman Empire thanks to playing in a band called The Ottomans.

While walking in the dark without a GPS, luck lands at Saxon’s feet as he finds a map. This stroke of fortune gets Team Gold to host David Genat (DG) first in Basilica Cistern.

Mission Brief

DG briefs the winning team, saying their “First mission is to travel south to the city of Bursa where you need to locate and experience a traditional Turkish Hammam together.”

They then need to pass “through the oldest Ottoman village on the way to the Escape Zone” to bring him some Turkish Delight.

Team Gold is then given 4000 Turkish Lira and they must make it last the whole 450km to Canakkale.

Team Navy came in next followed by Team Scarlet.

SEE ALSO: Rush 2023 Recap Episode One: The travellers complete their first mission in Brazil

Mission: Traditional Hamman

While Team Gold had the lead, choosing to wait an hour and a half for the bus meant that Team Navy was the first to make it to the city of Bursa.

Team Navy (Tommy, Sofia, Madeline and Tylen) are the first to make it to Bursa and find themselves stripped down to their swimmers for a traditional Turkish bath experience.

Team Scarlet is the next to arrive with Fiona, Adam and Hamish joining them; however, Team Navy slam the door in their face to maintain the lead.

While it was all a jolly affair, things took an… ahem, turn, as the spa was less than relaxing with a serious rub down.

“I don’t think many blokes wear this around the joint not in Bundaberg anyways that’s for sure,” Tylen says in a headwrap.

Elimination

After Team Gold experience the Hamman, the teams head off in very different directions.

Team Navy use their remaining money to jump in a taxi to the Escape Zone; however, they don’t have enough for the full fare so Sofia pawns some of her jewellery.

“Sofia, she definitely pulled out a strength card out in my eyes, not many people would sell things literally off their back,” Tylen said.

While a gallant effort, it was Team Scarlet who was the first to arrive at the Trojan Horse of Troy in the city of Cannakale; however, Team Gold was stranded 70km away.

After being abandoned by their taxi driver, they were left stranded with Saxon saying “We’re done for”.

DG sends a message through their smartwatch, sending a taxi to rescue them; however, since Team Navy had also reached the Escape Zone, they now had to eliminate a player.

With two minutes to decide, Team Gold eliminates Priscilla.

READ NEXT: Pack your bags! Everyone who has been eliminated from Rush 2023 so far

Rush airs on Sunday at 7:00pm and continues Monday and Tuesday at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.