Creating traditions on the road

Appreciating the routine.

Jan 15, 2024

After The Morning Tipple concluded, Steph and I left York and took the train to London for the night before flying back to Seattle.

A stopover in London has become routine for us over the years. Since it's such a major hub, often we'll find a flight to London from the U.S. and then take a cheap Ryanair flight to wherever we're going. Sometimes, the stopover is 12 hours. Occasionally, we'll give ourselves a night or two.

But no matter the length, there are two required stops in London - Borough Market and Padella.

It started on our second international trip together, one en route to Prague. We just got off a red-eye flight from Washington, DC, to London. We had a little over 12 hours until our next flight, and rather than sit in the airport for 12 hours, we took the train into the city, directly to Borough Market. Why Borough Market? It was easy to get to, we could walk around, grab some food, and not stress about straying too far from an easy train ride back to the airport.

By the time we got there, it was still pretty early. The market workers were starting to set up shop, and the steam from the kitchens was just beginning to rise from the chimneys. Fortunately, a handful of pubs still open early in London, including The Market Porter nearby. So we ducked inside, brushed our teeth in the bathroom, and ordered a Guinness.

There's something fun about the 7 am beer - a morning tipple, if you will. The brain is still soft and mushy, preparing itself for the day’s frivolities. Then you attack it with alcohol! A little beer, nothing too strong, just enough to give it a quality early-morning buzz.

Once the market opened, we took that morning buzz and meandered through it, listening to the siren call of all the market treats - a little coffee, some oysters, sea urchin, and mushroom risotto. Sure, why not.

And for second lunch was a small pasta spot around the corner from Borough Market, Padella. The first person who ever gave me this recommendation years ago described it as -"Walk up, eat pasta at 1 pm by the window, leave. It’s amazing."

And that it is. It's pretty affordable, even. The menu is small, with a handful of pasta, some mainstays like cacio e pepe, and others that rotate around. Wine on draft for 6.5 pounds or a Negroni for 8. Two people can escape with bellies full of pasta and drinks for about 50 pounds, which is incredible for London in 2024.

It's a pretty trendy spot. Back in the day, you'd have to get in line before it opened and even stand in line to get on the waitlist. These days, they have a virtual queue you can join via a QR code at the door. But it does get pretty busy, so the earlier you get there, the better.

Since then, every short stopover in London has included the same two stops, without fail. Steph has developed a love for Borough Market that I’m pretty sure far exceeds her affection towards me. Of course, we always have inspirations to fit in more food and drinks, but everything revolves around these two.

This past November was no different. We arrived in London from York at 1 pm, dropped off the bags, and headed to the market. Since we know the drill, our brains and bodies are on autopilot for those few hours. The time spent is often one of reflection and conversation about the past couple of days, weeks, or months spent on the road or anticipating what's ahead.

I don't have that many traditions in my life. Outwardly expressed sentimentality has never really been my strong suit. But my crusty exterior isn't so thick, so I admit there's something nice about these types of traditions, however big or small. You create for yourself something that provides a small dog ear for that chapter. It’s not a frequent tradition. But it’s like your favorite book or movie that you revisit from time to time, always meeting you wherever you are in life.