Ellesmere Island

I’m in the middle of Book 2: The Subtle Knife, in Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy (tetrology? Is Lyra’s Oxford a part of the series?). This series is incredibly inspiring indeed and makes me want to visit the North Pole, see the Aurora Borealis, Dust and the city in the lights. If I look hard enough, I just might see Cittàgaze =)

Okay, maybe that’s just a little too ambitious. But I would love to see the Aurora in person at least.

I want pictures of me standing one-legged on each of the three spots: the True North Pole (with the pleasure of saying, “It’s all South from here!!”), the Magnetic North Pole and the Geographic North Pole (ie. with the Chandler Wobble taken into account).

I would love to go during February (or so?) and spend a few days to a week in the 24 hour darkness of the northern winter, then see the sun come up for the first time in the year. If I’m feeling social enough, I might even participate in whatever festival or ritual that’s open to travellers.

I’m Canadian. As such, I feel I should at least be able to describe “riding in a dogsled to school everyday” and “living in an igloo”. Just to satisfy the Americans when they ask because, afterall, that’s my way of life -smirk-