[Iqaluit - Day 11] Final Day

So ... my 11-day journey has come to an end. I wish I can say I decided to stay here a little longer but the more classes I miss the more I will have difficulty getting back into the swing of things (not to mention I do have a midterm to write ... which I probably should study for :S).

However, not all trips ends on a smooth note. I did fall ill late Saturday into early Sunday morning and was in no position to be going anywhere yesterday so I stayed in my hotel room all day yesterday watching The Movie Channel. Whatever ailed me did more or less go away by early afternoon but at that point I didn't find a good enough reason to go to the office that day. That also meant I didn't go to the Frobisher Inn Sunday night, which I wanted to go to at least once but I was in no condition for a large meal. Oh well ... maybe next time (I knew I should have eaten the caribou back at the Waters' Edge ... argg!)

Anywho, this trip was well worth the time taken away from McGill. By this time tomorrow, I'll be back in McGill sitting in class and taking notes but given the chance to come back to the arctic (and I hope there will be another opportunity), I wouldn't hesitate. Well, depending where and what time of year (I'm not too sure I would enjoy constant -25C temperatures). If anything, I think Iqaluit is worth another look during the summer months when all the snow has melted ... especially the parks (apparently there are three national parks in the area, two of which is accessible by boat).

I still have a handful of pictures I still have to upload to my online web album but I'll only get to that after returning to MTL. Aside from that, I'll leave you with a few interesting tidbits of info about the wonderful world that is Iqaluit:

- gas costs 97c/litre
- all taxi fares are at a constant 6$ per person ... regardless of the distance you want to travel
- there is no such thing as persistent weather (highly variable weather ... and at times, unforgiving)
- alcohol isn't served pass 4pm at some places
- the price of baby food is actually on par with that found in Montreal
- milk is 7.50$ for a 2 litre carton
- jet fuel is something you don't want to smell while walking pass the airpiort (kind of unavoidable if you happen to walk to and from the weather office when a plane is landing or taking off)
- dogs occasionally walk unattended through the streets of Iqaluit (both big and small) ... not sure if they are wild or not, however
- high turn-over rate for employment
- as much as there is beauty in a tropical setting, ice and snow can impress you just as much