Hello London, I'm Kendra. It's nice to meet you.

I love London.  It is my favourite city in the world, and although I haven't been to every city in the world, of the ones I have visited so far - London is my favourite.  There is an energy that crackles throughout the city, unlike anything I've ever felt anywhere else.  I fell in love with London, the very first moment I stepped onto her sidewalks and right into the hustle and bustle of one of the oldest cities in Europe.  There I was, all alone and experiencing my first taste of the United Kingdom. 

I had a goal:  get to Victoria Station, jump on the Tube and head over to Covent Garden.  I was in search of a pub on Maiden Lane near Covent Garden called the Maple Leaf.  Yes, a Canadian pub in London.  And yes, I was going to find it.  Some may think it a little odd that I came all the way from Canada to London and headed directly for a Canadian pub.  But that is exactly what I intended to do.  I was going to find my piece of Canada in London! 

I navigated my way throughout the London underground, deep below the streets of London, making all of the necessary station transfers.  Soon enough, I emerged back up onto the sidewalk and into Covent Garden.  I began to walk.  With each step the revelation became more clear: I was in London and I was caught in her energy!  I wandered throughout Covent Garden taking in the sights and sounds.  There were elegant theatres announcing exciting Broadway productions, there was a square attached to Covent Garden Market, an outdoor shopping area, where I paused to take in an opera singer performance for people sitting at outdoor cafes while they sipped their wine.  The architecture of the buildings reinforced my impression that I was walking on cobblestones that so many had walked on for hundreds of years before me.  And I felt like I belonged, not only to the present, but i was also connected to the past in that moment. 

With my ultimate goal of finding the Maple Leaf Pub still in my mind, I wandered on.  Quite quickly I stumbled across Maiden Lane.  This was the street the Maple Leaf was on!  I turned right onto Maiden Lane, and soon enough, there it was!  A big red sign announcing that a piece of Canadian culture resides right there, just off Covent Garden square and in the heart of London.  I had found my way!  I walked into my little piece of Canada in London and sat down.  There were pictures of the Blue Jays baseball team hanging on the walls, jerseys belonging to the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens on display, Canadian beers on tap, there was even a huge stuffed bear looming over the patrons!  Incredible!  I had found Canada tucked away on Maiden Lane in London!  I sat down, ordered a pint of beer, and revelled in my surroundings.  I was in a Canadian pub in London.   

I went to London in search of a little piece of Canada, and I fell in love!  They say a good relationship feels like coming home.  This is the best way to describe how I feel about London.  My first trip into the city marked the beginning of a relationship that has been wonderful.  It has been filled with exploring new places and learning about history, discovering new experiences and understanding the past.  Although I do not visit her often enough, she is always there, waiting for me to discover a new adventure within her streets.