If you’ve read my blogs regularly, you know that I have met a lot of celebrities. It has been a hobby of mine for a long time, and I always incorporate it into my work when the opportunity is there.

Over the last couple years, I have started asking more travel-related questions. Not only are the questions relevant to Global Traveler, but I have found that the questions sometimes open the conversations quite well. I think the stars view travel questions as a refreshing change of pace over the usual stuff.

One of the most interesting conversations was with Jon Miller, award-winning announcer for the San Francisco Giants and ESPN. I asked Miller about his favorite city to visit. He gave me a lengthy, thoughtful answer.

Miller loves Bora-Bora, calling it “the most incredible spot ever,” although he doubted there would ever be a baseball club there. I knew the interview was going to be fun at that point.

He then talked about the beauty and culture of Paris. Bringing it to the United States, he cited Seattle (especially in the summer) for the waterfront and Chicago for the shopping, food and theater. Crossing the northern border, Miller raved about Toronto’s transit system and their underrated theater scene. Miller brought us back to the U.S. by talking about San Diego and the wonderful downtown and waterfront area around PetCo Park. I really think Miller could have spent the whole afternoon discussing travel, but his duties called him away.

Miller did not name any specific hotels. Most celebrities don’t, for whatever reasons. Maybe they just don’t want to sound like an endorsement.

Hall of Fame broadcaster (and former ESPN workmate of Miller’s) Peter Gammons was an exception to that general rule. Gammons named San Francisco as his favorite city to visit. Gammons talked about the famous bridge as well as the joy in simply walking around the city. Then he mentioned the Mandarin Oriental as his favorite hotel, citing the elegance, comfort and fabulous views.

Of course, everyone isn’t as willing to discuss travel. Joe Morgan, Hall of Fame player and current broadcaster for ESPN, said he didn’t have a favorite city because he likes them all. That was disappointing. Morgan played in the ’60s through the mid-’80s and in many cities. I am sure he could have added some interesting insight.

I have a lot more stories. Perhaps I will sprinkle them in here if the response is good.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for quite a while. Not because we had any big plans or were going anywhere special. I just was anticipating a leisurely three-day weekend (more for my husband than for me, since working from home means my work days can often be indistinguishable from weekends and holidays), with Valentine’s Day and the start of the Winter Olympics adding fun and excitement to the mix.

This year we decided to forego a nice dinner out at one of our favorite places and instead create a nice dinner in for Valentine’s Day. I think I’ve mentioned before that Harry is some mean cook, so I’m anticipating a meal of coconut shrimp, wild rice and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce and, of course, a bottle of wine or two. I’ll be contributing a yummy chocolate dessert — can’t have Valentine’s Day without chocolate! We’ll also take in a couple of movies this weekend (we each choose one, so there’s a nice balance) and just enjoy a few unhurried days together.

The weekend began with watching the Opening Ceremony of the Winter Games in Vancouver. Well, I will admit that I was reading a magazine and doing a few chores at the same time, as all of the coverage did not require my undivided attention all of the time. I did enjoy much of the visual spectacle, though. And, with the games being held here in the Pacific Northwest, we have an added interest in them. Having lived in the Seattle area and Washington state for two decades, we’ve visited Vancouver a number of times. It is definitely one of my favorite cities for it’s stunning setting, cosmopolitan atmosphere and cultural diversity. After observing all of the preparations over the last several years for this big event, it’s exciting to now see it all coming to fruition and to see the rest of the world’s reaction to this beautiful place.

I’ve always enjoyed both the summer and winter Olympics. I have very little athletic talent myself, but I really get drawn in to the various competitions and can’t help but admire and respect all the effort and sacrifice the athletes put forth to achieve their goals. A few peeves about the coverage, though. This one applies not just to the Olympics, but any sporting event: Please, do away with the pre- and post-event interviews with the athletes. The same old cliched questions are asked, and the same old cliched responses will be given. I like the pretaped background stories on the athletes’ lives, but not those stale bits that reveal absolutely nothing new.

I’d also like to to see the events in real time, not tape-delayed and broadcast during prime time (admitting that there may be options via satellite and such). For those of us living in the same time zone as the Games are being held, it would mean we don’t have to stay up ’til midnight to catch the finals of big events. I appreciate the editing which compresses time between preliminaries and individual performances, but too much manipulation takes some of the spontaneity and anticipation out of the viewing.

Finally, I just don’t like the participation of professional athletes, especially in the team events like hockey, basketball and baseball. I know all of the history, the political and economic reasons behind the change in the rules. I know that there are the Shaun Whites and Apolo Ohnos who have made a lot of money in their sports, too — more than most professional athletes in team sports. Still, especially in those team events, I think it makes for especially uneven “competition.” And who believes the 1980 Miracle on Ice victory would have been as sweet if the U.S. team had been loaded with pros? 

Ah, but enough of that. I’m just going to sit back and enjoy the rest of my weekend, and may you do the same.

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

Chris Chelios played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1983-1990, when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks. While in Chicago, Chelios twice won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman. The fans loved Chelios, and he loved playing in his hometown.

Unfortunately, midway through the 1998-99 season, the Hawks traded the 37-year-old Chelios to the Detroit Red Wings. This was a sad day for Hawks fans, who believed and wanted Chelios to finish his career in Chicago.

Now, ten years later, Chelios is still playing, and his Red Wings are on the verge of knocking the Blackhawks out of the playoffs. Mama Chelios is famous for her dual jersey (half Hawks/half Wings), but most of the Hawks fans are more decisive in their fandom.

Many Hawks fans boo Chelios, calling him a traitor. Years earlier, Chelios stated in an interview that he would never play for the Red Wings. This statement has not been forgotten.

I find this all fascinating. Chelios was born in Chicago, went to college in Wisconsin, was drafted by Montreal and was traded to Detroit, aside from his years playing with the Hawks. Yet it is the years as a Blackhawk by which Chicago fans deem to define him. Having talked to many sports fans on my recent trip to Detroit, I assure you that Detroit fans view Chelios as one of their own, too.

Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he went north of the Illinois border to the UW-M? Why wasn’t Chelios a traitor when he was with Les Habitants across the Canadian border?

Of course, the questions are rhetorical and silly. Chelios is not a traitor. He never wanted to leave Chicago. The management of the Blackhawks then was very frugal and short-sighted. They did not want to pay too much for a player they felt was near the end.

Chelios isn’t a traitor. David Letterman wasn’t a traitor when he left Indianapolis and found success in Los Angeles and then New York. The Beatles weren’t traitors when they came to America and found success. Fran Gallagher wasn’t a traitor when he left Philadelphia for Chicago and then New York years ago (although he did return to his Philly roots).

In the regular business world, it is not uncommon to switch companies and cities several times during a career. In business it is called career advancement (and it very seldom gets booed).

Why are athletes viewed so differently? We all know sports is a big business now. In every other aspect, it is treated as a business, yet when a player leaves a town (even if not by choice) he is often booed.

If the Red Wings end up winning the title, Chelios will once again raise Lord Stanley’s Cup, and Chicago fans will once again boo him. It probably isn’t going to be of much comfort to Chicagoans, but I do promise that distribution specialist and blog writer John Wroblewski will always be in Chicago.

-John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

A couple weeks ago, I flew to Toronto early in the morning, and in the evening of the same day, I flew to Montreal and checked into the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. Every time I’m in Montreal for business, I can think of only one story from the early days of GT, and it makes me laugh out loud. It was one of the few times Fran Gallagher and I were in Montréal at the same time. We had a productive day of meetings and, as any good business traveler should, we decided to sample one of the many great restaurants in Old Montreal.

In my opinion, Old Montreal offers the perfect balance of old and new. Cobblestones line the streets while sleek, modern restaurants offset the cobblestone. Many of the restaurants feature floor-to-ceiling windows that allow diners an optimal view of the streets. During this trip, it was a winter wonderland, and snow was piled waist high across the whole city.

While walking to dinner, I experienced a new element of Global Traveler — the element of surprise. I was still dressed for business — in a suit and high heels — and while stepping outside of the hotel, I felt something hit my back. What could it be? I turned around to see another snowball headed straight for my forehead. With my slick NYC skills, I quickly ducked and found the culprit. None other than Fran Gallagher himself! I quickly took in my surroundings and did what I felt was the only professional thing to do in this situation . . . fire back!

Even in high heels, I held my own, although Mr. Gallagher put up a good fight. I still claim victory, but I know he disagrees. Now, since the GT team has grown, perhaps we need to have a rematch — sales versus editorial. We shall see who prevails! What I learned that night, and throughout my career at GT, is that, even in stressful times, it is important to laugh. The diners in old Montreal that night may not agree with me, as some snowballs definitely hit those floor-to-ceiling windows!

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

This week’s eFlyer newsletter features an article on Valentine’s Day travel. It quotes a recent survey which found that 89 percent of respondents listed vacation trips as the perfect Valentine’s Day gift. The article then proceeds to list a number of great travel deals currently offered to some romantic locales. It got me thinking about some of the places I’ve been and some that I have yet to visit with my sweetie.

We got married on a Labor Day weekend 27 years ago, and because we were both teachers at the time, our honeymoon was restricted to just a few days on the Oregon coast before the school year started. That Christmas, though, we spent a fantastic week in Hawaii, strolling palm-fringed beaches, enjoying lush tropical flowers and sipping exotic cocktails while viewing amazing sunsets. I also remember a wonderfully relaxing week we spent in Napa wine country. We left our two-year-old daughter with the grandparents and rediscovered our identity as a couple as we winetasted and dined our way from Healdsburg to Sonoma to Yountville. Not too long ago we spent a long weekend in Victoria, B.C., and reveled in the gardens, shops and fine dining there.

Both of us have been to some very romantic spots . . . just not with each other. Harry made two trips to Europe before we met (but WITHOUT a female companion, he assures me) and visited Paris, Rome, Monte Carlo and the Greek isles. On a girls-only cruise with my sisters several years ago, I too visited Rome and the Greek islands (and sorely wished my hubby was there to share them with me). That still leaves me with a long list of places with a high romance factor I’d love to visit:  the Taj Mahal, Venice, Paris, Provence and Tuscany, some remote South Pacific island like Bora-Bora,  the Caribbean, and I’ve always wanted to tango in Buenos Aires!

In the meantime, we are fortunate to live within driving distance of some very lovely spots for a nice romantic weekend. In five hours we could be in San Francisco, and a little more than that would put us in Tahoe. There are lots of cozy inns and B & Bs all up and down the coast, and an equal number of lodges and resorts in the mountains, the most venerable and romantic of them all likely being Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood.

When it comes right down to it, I think if you’re with the right person, just about anywhere can be full of romance. Any of you out there willing to share some of your favorite romantic spots?

 Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader