Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 09/99) - Laura Gilbert, an assistant editor with Cosmopolitan Magazine in New York City, had three days off from work over the Independence Day holiday to go somewhere for a visit.

The big question for her was where to go? She only had a few days to decide and little time to make a trip worthwhile.

"I started reading about Yellowknife in the Lonely Planet Survival Kit," Gilbert said. "I've always wanted to go above the Arctic Circle and see the midnight sun and Yellowknife seemed like the most direct route to get there.

"I saw the Spanish movie with subtitles 'Lovers of the Arctic Circle' and that solidified my desire to see the North and suddenly, it was no longer a lark."

According to Gilbert, when you are in the Big Apple, with living costs comparable to the immensity of the Empire State Building, just getting out of town can be an almost insurmountable undertaking. However, a trip to Yellowknife from New York was one of the cheapest flights going around last week, so when Gilbert found out about it, she jumped at the opportunity.

"I was on the Internet last weekend and I saw a plane ticket to Yellowknife advertised for $378 American," Gilbert said. "It usually costs about $990, but Canadian Airlines were having a July 4th sale, so I jumped on it."

"It wasn't all the way past the Arctic Circle but it was close enough. At least I'd get to see the midnight sun."

Of course, hastily arranged trips are usually not without at least a few minor complications.

"My friends thought that I was losing my mind," Gilbert said. "They thought that I was going to go off into the wilderness and disappear.

"I almost didn't get into the country either because custom agents in Toronto weren't buying my story. They couldn't understand why I was going all the way to Yellowknife from New York for three days. They asked me if I was in trouble with police and on the run."

Gilbert finally made it to Yellowknife on Sunday night, July 4, and admittedly, she didn't know what to expect.

"I never knew anybody from around here," Glibert said. "I guess I was expecting something more rural but Yellowknife has a very urban attitude.

"All the kids dress like they're from Brooklyn while in Kansas (her former home) they are five years behind."

At least Gilbert got her wish.

"I can't believe how bright it is at night," Gilbert said. "I'm not sure if I should be sleeping or going work.

"The North is definitely a very different place. I got my wish."

After spending less than 60 hours North of 60, Gilbert was back to work on Thursday.