Airport Insecurity

_{At the end of our visit to the North we checked our suitcases at the airline counter before my sister took us on a last-second souvenir shopping tour of Iqaluit.  The Husband browsed for a soapstone walrus while I congratulated myself for remembering to leave my shiny new ulu (Inuit knife) with my sister.  “I’ll never get that on the plane in my carry-on bag,” I joked.}

_{Running late by the time we got back to the airport, we were relieved there was no line-up at security.  Until we saw there was no staff, either.}

_{I asked an official-looking woman where we should go and she pointed to a line of people with boarding passes walking out onto a plane.}

_{Sure enough.  We got right on, no questions asked.} 

_{Of course I hate airport security.  Who wants to stand shoeless, belt undone, with their cardigan shoved in a grimy plastic tub?} 

_{There was none of this baloney for us in Iqaluit.  I could’ve taken my ulu.}

_{In the capital city of Canada’s newest territory, where unmentioned amounts are spent to build a stunning new RCMP headquarters, subsidize snowmobilers’ fuel, and label the stop signs in Inuktitut, some expense has been spared at the airport.}

_{Our Northern adventure skittered to a stop when the plane landed in Yellowknife.  “Take your belongings off the plane, go through security, and then re-board,” the flight attendant directed.}

_What?

_{We woke The Boy and packed our magazines.  “Do we have to abandon this bottle of juice?” I asked.}

_“Yes.”

_{“And we get back on this same plane?”}

_{“Yes,” she said.  “Same seats.”}

_{We trooped down the steps and across the tarmac, survived the usual “Remove your belt, sir”, commands, hiked back up the steps, and re-settled into our seats.  The flight attendant brought The Boy some fresh juice.}

_{We were almost home.}

Comments

[Maureen]

Nothing like a little culture shock in the same country!

[Sally Tubello]

Good thing you didn't take the ulu! Although I'm thinking a soapstone carving could do more damage if you chucked it hard enough at someone. I'm surprised they let those things on the plane.

Did you enjoy the north?