Confessions of a Middle-Aged Backpacker: A Solo Travel Memoir

Until his midlife crisis arrived, Chris Gattanella always played it safe. He spent two decades sinking into a nice cozy life and career in Los Angeles.

Now in his forties and newly single, he suddenly feels unfulfilled and bored. Is it because he never ventured out to see the world? Impulsively, Chris burns years of saved vacation time on a six-week “test run” through Europe to see if he enjoys being a wandering backpacker. Thrilled with his adventure, he then sells his condo and quits his job.

But to make long-term travel on the road feasible, Chris will have to live frugally. Finding himself amongst mostly young people in hostels, he will try to blend in with the crowd. He’ll survive multiple monkey attacks, a boat sinking, altitude sickness, a deranged sea captain, and many other bizarre encounters with people, animals, and transportation on seven continents. Two and a half years and 40+ countries later he'll have a multitude of ridiculous anecdotes ... and he'll be a little closer to understanding the meaning of life.