I Hope There's a Kettle in my Room: The inspiring true story of a first solo backpacking journey around Europe at age 55

by Paula Rooney

This is the inspirational true story of a 55-year-old woman who puts the ghosts of the past behind her and determined to discover a sense of freedom, embarks on a solo backpacking trip around Europe.

45 trains. 14 buses. 10 countries. 16 beds. a cable car and a tin boat in an underground cave

She travelled to mountain tops, across the Swiss Alps, melted in Venice, felt emotional in Ljubljana, fell in love with Czech and was surprised with Germany.

All the while, searching for a decent cup of tea and hoping there's a kettle in the room.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

About the author

Journaling holidays started with the first family holiday to Cornwall when Paula was ten. When she was thirteen, her dad left the family for good, taking the car with him.
Then aged sixteen, her mum took them on a holiday to a caravan park at Burnham on Sea. Paula, her sister, her brother and her brother's friend, all went by bus, as her mother didn't drive. It was a big adventure and lots of fun.
This might have ignited her passion for travel and instilled a sense of adventure. If you don't have a car, you get the bus, if you don’t know where you are, you look at a map.
Paula has since written four travel memoirs, journaling her solo adventures. These have taken her interrailing, walking the Camino de Santiago, spending Christmas in Andalucía and her fourth adventure was five weeks in Morocco.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book for a couple of reasons.

I enjoyed the funny and curious observations from Paula as she visited so many unknown towns and cities across Europe, whilst she travelled solo by train. But as well as this, I appreciated that she shared a more subtle story about the struggles that most people battle as they head through life, and the optimistic outlook that she encourages through her actions and words. As well as this there are some really wholesome reflections and funny interpretations of the world around us. By the end of the book I was wishing that her journey continued on for longer just so I could keep on reading.

So, to call it an adventure memoir would be accurate, but I think it offers a lot more than you would expect. Would recommend!

[Jo Hurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this had been written well it would have lost the personal touch that makes it such a great read. I really enjoyed it and am full
Of admiration for the writer.

[Lisa Bruce]

Don’t read is my review. Not enjoyable. Poorly written and edited. Wonderful countries to explore but
A letdown.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was so inviting. Unfortunately, the writing was a letdown. I gave up reading roughly halfway into it. The author failed to bring me, the reader, along on her journey. Where is the excitement? Where are the details? I felt like I should be making corrections a I read. Did this book make it onto an editor's desk?

[Karen O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Paula’s third book about Christmas in Andalusia first and I wanted to read her book about walking the Camino so since I love a travel memoir I went back to the start and read this one second. Paula’s journal of her Inter-railway travels during the Covid times was interesting and kept me turning the pages. It was fun seeing place I have never been through her reports and I’m glad I had another of her stories to move on to when this one was finished all too soon. I can really identify with her spirit of adventure travelling solo, and all the emotional ups and downs that go along with that. She does a great job of sharing that with us, which makes we the reader want to see it through to a successful end along with her. I enjoyed what she enjoyed and ached for what she didn’t and looked up a lot of places on the map and learned even more about her favorite places.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paula Rooney's books are so real, genuine and cover such personal, world-widening emotional highs and lows whenever she travels. Highly recommended!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd already read Paula's Camino book, so I was looking forward to seeing how her first solo adventure worked out. Very brave to decide to travel during the covid pandemic, but in honesty, you wouldn't've known there WAS a pandemic on for most of the book. This isn't just a woman adventuring through Europe, it's a woman taking stock of her life, and some of the choices she made, and the issues she suffered going back to her childhood. It's not a travelogue where you learn about the places Paula traveled to: she admits she's more interested in scenery than history, and you don't learn about food either, as most of what she eats is fruit or chips/fries. But it's still an enjoyable book: and I don't think I would have the courage to travel alone as Paula did.

[Maia Coghlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about this trip and I happen to have not been to most of these places so it was interesting from that perspective too. I liked the chill days spent having a drink in the hotel room watching people from the window, gotta have your chill days!

Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the ongoing discussion about whether or not to eat vegan and justifying not eating vegan got quite tedious. I was also confused by the ordering of 2 different drinks at almost every restaurant. Not sure if it's a British thing or the author's way of coping with not eating much food.

Anyway, mostly I liked it! And the title is amusing.

[Paul White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book on so many levels because it was more of a travel diary than a travel log with the journey providing the imagery to Paula's words. The real story was how a 55 year old whose life had eaten away their self-confidence and shrunk her comfort zone showed that regardless of your previous experiences and fears you can succeed. All you need to do is open the door and walk through it. So Well done for taking that first step, and countless more on the journey. And, even more for taking to time to write it ALL down and share. It certainly made me feel like I could do this too.

[Dawn White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this inspirational travel journal. As someone who loves travelling and reads a lot of travel books, I couldn't put it down. I discovered new places I'd never heard of and reminisced about places I'd been before. But the real gem of this book is that it highlights the power of travel and how it can inspire and heal and change a person. Well done, Paula! I can't wait to read your next one.

[Ian Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read

This book was inspirational, to read about a woman just a little older than me who backpacked for the first time ever, by herself at the age of 55, I loved it. The author not only gave fabulous descriptions of the places that she visited, but also opened up to the reader about her past abusive marriage. How she found solace in making new, happy memories to replace some of the the bad ones, and slowly found confidence in herself through travel.

[Tammy Horvath · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book full of adventure and bravery. I thoroughly enjoyed this travel book through many countries. If I visit even half the places Paula has, I will die a fortunate woman. Switzerland, especially riding the panoramic train, was my favorite country she visited. She tasted local food, stayed in hostels, and faced challenges, where she learned to persevere and enjoy more adventures. What a life Paula has lived—she is living the dream. I also particularly enjoyed the photos.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and inspirational memoir of a 55 year old woman Interrailing through Europe on her own during the pandemic. As someone who has an Interrailing ticket waiting to be used, it was of great interest, and I was touched by the sharing of her deeply personal stories of difficult childhood and marriage. This counterbalanced the simple/clipped language and sometimes repetitive prose, leading me to score a 4.

[Amy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

traveling myself, couldn’t put the book down!

I couldn’t put the book down. It was a thrilling read all the way through. Felt like I was there with her. It was nice because I’m on my own travel journey as I’m reading. Highly recommend, if you are on travel, or thinking about traveling especially by yourself.

[Rosalyn Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Wonderful mixture of personal reflection & travel stories. Paula is an advert for how travel can be a life changing experience 😊
I am about to embark on an inter rail trip myself, aged 55 (albeit not my first travel) and this book continues to inspire me.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “must read” for anyone interested in rail travel.
A very personal account of the author’s travel experiences with amusing anecdotes. The author is not afraid to talk about what went wrong as well as the amazing experiences along the way.

[Ciara Rooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

[Gill Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book on the whole. It was honest and authentic about the challenges and fun of travelling across Europe in your fifties on your own in the midst of a pandemic!

[Ken Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous travel book from a back backing virgin. Looking forward to her new book about the Camino de Santiago.

[Mrs J Y Marshall · Rating 3 out of 5]

good travelogue but not great literature

Enjoyed the trip round Europe but was not well-written from a literature point of view. Glad I read it though

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great travel read

Author is very down to earth and likeable. Great ideas for travel to some lesser known places. Includes practical advice.

[Joanana Ulmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am loving this book. It is written with humor about a woman traveling alone across Europe and her impressions as she goes.
.

[Angelica Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy enjoyable read. Not much depth but good for reading in a plane!