May 26th 1992
The Donnafugatta Winery was completely breath-taking! Their organization and cleanliness was paramount. Their historic wine cellars of Marsala, we entered via a platform to view the immaculate rows and rows of wine barrels. Frasier and I lagged behind to enjoy its ambiance, but the guide insisted that we stay with the group. After her fifth appeal to us and the rest of the group physically insisting that we join them by prying our hands off of the railing, we regretfully complied. How rude! I said it and I'll admit it: I said it OUT LOUD!
I would like to note that that was our only embarrassment during the tour, but the pressure to outdo each other steadily assented from the abyss of subconscious which could not contain our sibling rivalry. Frasier and I continuously attempted to pursue the advantage of showing each other up by demonstrating to the group our vast knowledge of each portion of the tour before the tour guide had a chance to speak. I could tell that Frasier had been studying up on the winery before he had even left the states. Our desire to be better than each other acted as blinders and we didn't notice the line we had crossed. We started to interrupt the tour guide by attempting to finish each one of her sentences. We were so insistent, that when we finished her sentences, we weren't even making sense as we started to elbow each other. Needless to say, we are now banished from ever returning to the Donnafugata winery. (heavy sigh).
Frasier and I apologized to each other afterwards… of course too late to save our reputations with the winery. We decided to lift our spirits by finding a place to get a message.