Inuvik (July 06/01) - There's a nine-year-old girl who's busy counting her pennies.

But Ayla Gully isn't saving up just to buy some candy, or even a bicycle. She wants to fly to Greece.

Ayla Gully

The reason is so she can visit her sister and brother in law, Angela and Gus, who are expecting their first child in September.

Gully made her decision five months ago, and as of last week had raised about $200 of the roughly $2,000 she needs.

She paints and does paper crafts and will have an art sale. Last Saturday she also had her own table during a yard sale at Aurora College.

As well, she's collected more than 200 pop cans.

Gully hasn't seen her sister in three years, and is optimistic she'll make the trip to Chios, Greece. She's unsure how long she'll stay, but would like to spend her birthday there (Oct. 28).

The furthest from Inuvik that Gully has been so far is Fort McPherson, and she said she still does not know much about Greece.

She did say it's hard to learn Greek.

Gully expects Greece will be different from Inuvik, such as the buildings and warmer climate.

"It rains and it doesn't snow," Gully said.

Gully will be going with her sister Nikki.

"I'm just going to have fun," Gully said of her plans. "I'm going to go to the stores with Nikki and buy lots of clothes."