Montreal has always been a favorite of mine. Perhaps it is because I went to school at UVM and Montreal was the closest major city to me, but I consider myself lucky to have been so close to a great international gateway.

To this day, Montreal is a favorite, and a hidden gem of North America. In my opinion, it is the food and the people that make it extra special. It is like Europe without the jetlag. The US dollar does not hold the value it used to, but the overall value still makes you feel like you are getting a deal.

I make it a point to stay in the old town at an auberge and this last trip I stayed at Auberge au Vieux Port . I found it on the Internet and could not have chosen better. I’ve stayed at other auberges before, such as Auberge Les Pessants du Sans Soucy and would recommend both, but the Auberge Au Vieux Port won my heart. I arrived to the hotel about 7 pm just when a playoff game was starting for the Canadiens (hockey team). So, of course the whole city was glued to the TV screen and had a great energy to it. However, when I checked in there were two ladies, who cared nothing about hockey, asking about where to eat. Frankly, in Montreal, you have to look very hard to find a bad restaurant. However, they took 15 minutes of the front desk’s time while I just stood there. The valet took notice right away and immediately brought me a complimentary glass of wine. I arrived to the room after and was blown away. It was gorgeous and was a standard room at a very reasonable price and even beat some 5-star hotel rooms I’ve been to. It had hard wood floors, 11-foot ceilings, flat screen TV, brand new bathroom and beautiful bed in an iron cast frame. The auberge also had a delicious restaurant on the ground floor and outdoor terrace to dine in during the summer months. It was a stunning country room in the middle of a great city. A true hideaway on a business trip, just 5 minutes by taxi downtown.

Montreal is a must see city for a quick business trip, a weekend trip for the family or a romantic getaway.

-Alex Young, vice president and associate publisher

In 1995, several random circumstances converged to produce two often retold tales from one of my trips.

My brother-in-law Scott Parker invited me to join him and his friends on their annual fishing trip to Canada. I had never fished before in my life (nor had any particular interest in fishing), however my life was in a big rut and 10 days in remote Canada, away from everything, was very enticing.

After a long overnight drive following work on Friday, we arrived in International Falls, Minn. at daybreak Saturday. We took a puddle-jumper to the island that would be our home for the next eight days. This was the only time in my life that I got sick on an airplane, although what we took barely qualified as an actual airplane.

I caught exactly one fish during the trip, but I only fished a few times. Instead, I used the time to hang on the beach (reading, running and sleeping). The rest of the guys were cool about my semi-participation. We had a lot of great meals, lively card games and good-natured ribbing. I was introduced to Canadian Coke, actually preferring it to regular Coke and the full stock of ale beverages we had on hand. I also got my first taste of roto-baseball courtesy of Scott Olofsson (more on that in a future blog, check back in March 2008).

On the way back, we stopped at the Midway Bar, in Butternut, Wis., a village with 407 residents. It is owned by their friends Shane and Molly. As eight grizzled, weary men stumbled into the bar, we saw exactly two other patrons. One of them greeted me with a big, “Hi John!” I quickly recognized her as Joelle, a good friend during our time together at DePaul several years earlier. As we caught up on the ‘missing’ years, we kept laughing at the incredible odds of meeting up like this.

It was later the same evening when I did the unthinkable. I got the best of “The Nes.” Tom Nestlehut is a great guy, legendary even. I could tell you more of his legendary status, but space limitations and the family orientation of this blog prohibit most of the stories. He seemingly always has the upper hand … except this night. As Shane mixed up a large, completely mysterious concoction, Tom dared me to drink it (banking on my teetotaling in Canada), adding that I could tag a new nickname on him should I finish the beverage. I am not sure Tom had finished the dare before I emptied the glass. I was king for the night, giving Tom his new nickname, which I will not mention here (what happens in Butternut, stays in Butternut).

These stories have become legendary within that circle of friends. I am glad I was able to leave my mark, but I am happier to say that was one of the best trips of my life. My hope is that I get a return invitation in 2015, the 20^th anniversary.

- John Wroblewski, distribution specialist