En route
One would think by now I would be an expert packer but I am not. I will never measure up to the caliber of suitcase immaculately balanced with even weight distribution and minimal bulk produced by David Kristensen. Due to the 40% increase in food costs as the Quebec government has apparently stopped subsidizing cargo costs, I went a little overboard on the purchasing of sustenance in Montreal. As a result I found myself at YUL with 3 70lb bags, lumpy, overstuffed and rather sad looking. I fully expect to end up with apple sauce all over my underwear and the odour of tofu ingrained in my jeans.
Air Liquide (Sarah Van Berkel), however was kind enough to sponsor my cab ride out to the airport and save me the embarrassment of dirty disapproving looks from minimalist travellers on the 747 bus.
YUL, more like YU HELL
With minimal sleep, because I am both a poor and last minute packer, the only thing keeping me going was the promise of a YUL gate B1 Starbucks coffee. After a month of "rocket fuel" (a sprinkle of nescafe powder, water and a ridiculous amount of sweetened condensed milk) charged mornings in Africa, I had really been looking forward to some fresh drip coffee from Starbucks roasted beans (probs grown in Africa, feeding my desire to return not to save the world, but to save the African nation from a lifetime of nescafe) .
NO DRINKABLE WATER at YUL, translation NO COFFEE
My heart and moral were broken, and I am now forced to spend another 10 weeks Starbucks free in the Kuujj. If it wasn't for the presence of Sarah and her coworker a tear would have been shed.
I composed myself, said goodbye to Sarah, made due with a bottled ice coffee and headed to gate 17 (hidden away in the basement of YUL). Just before boarding, Evan was kind enough to make the long gate 17 trek to wish me farewell and increase my gate 17 street cred and popularity.
First Air flight to Iqaluit with stops in Kuujjuaq
When the cost of a 2 hour and 15 minute flight is over $1000 dollars each way (thank you village of Kuujjuaq), you are treated well. Post First Air in-flight breakfast and coffee, things were looking up and the sun was shining...let the weirdness begin.I was seated beside Robert Hudon, otherwise known as "Ti-Pit", a music teacher (guitar, accordion, piano, and drums) from Lac St-Jean en route to Iqaluit to work as a taxi driver. The strange thing about my new found friend Ti-Pit, aside from the fact that he handed me his business card which advertises the fact that he likes to be called "Ti-Pit" was the fact that he had no idea that Iqaluit was a city within Nunavut. When asked as to where he was headed (in both french and English) he responded "Nunavut", I of course politely nodded "Iqaluit?" only to be greeted with looks of great confusion. With the help of the in-flight magazine air map, I managed to explain that Iqaluit was a city within the province of Nunavut and his final destination and place of work.
How does one not know where they are relocating to? Anyways, should anyone be in Iqaluit and interested in receiving music lessons from Ti-Pit, he can be reached at 418 347 4850.
Welcome to Kuujjuaq
2 hours and 15 minutes of chatting with Ti-Pit later, I am greeted by sights of Arctic Tundra, baron landscapes, and frozen rivers.
Back in Kuujjuaq
