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13th February 2016

Jo Trouble
Jo McCarthy

Glad you enjoyed
Hola Gringo Viejo, Glad you enjoyed your short visit here! If you make it back someday and go swimming at Piha / Lion Rock, be careful of the undercurrents. And if you want to see a kiwi not in captivity, my recommendation would be to visit Tiritiri Matangi Island and book well in advance to stay overnight in the bunkhouse - not that you'd get much sleep if you're out kiwi hunting most of the night!
From Blog: A glorious day in Auckland
4th February 2016

Steve Engel
non-member comment

Typee and Time Lost
Maybe Theroux didn't read "Typee" but got the basic version from someone else. Wouldn't it be bizarre if the legendary travel writer were, in fact, a blind shut-in--sort of Jorge Luis Borges or Homer--who merely elaborated upon stories he had heard, or dreamed up? I do remain puzzled about how you work out the Pills of Lost Thursday Problem. It would seem to have a domino effect . . .
From Blog: 181 Deg W
2nd February 2016

Rachel
non-member comment

Thursday
Don't worry Dad, Thursday was very boring - you guys didn't miss anything ;-)
From Blog: 181 Deg W
1st February 2016

Jean Hearst
non-member comment

lost day
my IQ always increasing a bit when I have contact with you,Martin. I love your quandary over your excess pills. That is always my calendar when I travel.
From Blog: 181 Deg W
28th January 2016

Steve Engel
non-member comment

Sip of coconut milk
Thank you for the sip of coconut milk and the measurement of palm trees against the horizon drop-off. And thank you for that glimpse of paradisiacal tedium. It saves me a trip . . . ;0}
From Blog: Rangiroa
26th January 2016

Gay Dawson
non-member comment

AUCKLAND VISIT
We have looked on the Internet and it says your boat is docking at 6.30am not 8.00am. You name a time you would like us to meet you on the wharf from 8.00am onwards.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
1st February 2016

El Gringo Viejo
William Martin McClain

AUCKLAND VISIT
Dear Gay and Don: Yes, yes, yes! (9 AM on the dock in Auckland, Feb. 2. Carol in her big striped hat, me with my hiking pole. I'm so sorry that communication has been so spotty. Now we are in the beautiful Bay of Islands; tomorrow, Auckland. The internet connection is much improved here.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
25th January 2016

Rachel
non-member comment

Stay away from mosquitos!
I am really enjoying these updates, Dad! The ship sounds quite comfortable, and even fun! I loved the magician story, and the tidbits of history you include are always fascinating.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
25th January 2016

Sally
non-member comment

Marquesas Report
Not only have I heard of the Marquesas I spent two weeks there in 2014. Among other sights I saw many tikis in the jungles. Nest time we meet I will bring a few tiki pictures.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
24th January 2016

Jean Hearst
non-member comment

Martin, You are such a good writer. It is not quite a substitute for making the trip myself, but close.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
24th January 2016

Gay Dawson
non-member comment

MEETING IN AUCKLAND
We'd love to meet up with you. 2 February is good for us. We will pick you up and take you around Auckland for a quick over-view of our lovely city. Parking is hopeless where the boat comes in so I will meet you on the dock about 9.00am and Don will wait at an appointed place. Looking forward to seeing you. Calm sailing!!!
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
24th January 2016

Steve Engel
non-member comment

Oh! Sorry--never mind!
Martin, I just asked a question about what you do on board the ship, not realizing that you had sent several blog entries which answer the question. Sandy apparently has not been forwarding your emails from aol, and I no longer check it.
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
24th January 2016

Steve Engel
non-member comment

My favorite sentence
I believe this may be one of my favorite sentences of the New Year (or any travelogue ever): "Nuku Hiva is an island paradise, though to live here would be about as bad a life sentence." But I do have a question, which it may not be politic for you to answer in this venue: what do you do on board the ship--what pleases you, and what does not?
From Blog: The Marquesas Islands
19th January 2016

Meeredith McClain
non-member comment

Hey, add me to your address book. You one and only sister.
So glad I called Uta M. today and found out that you're sending your blog. Just not to me, the one who has been worrying about how you're doing. She fwd this to me. Wonder what happened and how come you wouldn't have noticed. Oh well, Correct all that. Love, Meredith
From Blog: The Canal
19th January 2016

Clay Wellborn
non-member comment

Speed
18 knots = 20.7 mph. That's a pretty good speed at sea.
From Blog: Fourth day at sea
19th January 2016

Carolyn Clock Allen
non-member comment

Hi out there at sea
Martin - plwaw don't take the time (and effort) to reply to this. I just wanted you to know I'm enjoying your blog. Thanks. We can email when you get back. Say hi to Carol for me.
From Blog: Fourth day at sea
19th January 2016

Penny
non-member comment

Sounds great!
Wonderful descriptions of what life is like on board! I agree. Stay out of that casino!!! Maybe the mind readers are assisting on the sly...you never know! Ha Which raises an interesting question. Shouldn't they be able to WIN at the casino??? Have fun and stay safe ~ Love, Penny
From Blog: Fourth day at sea
19th January 2016

Penny
non-member comment

Sounds great!
Wonderful descriptions of what life is like on board! I agree. Stay out of that casino!!! Maybe the mind readers are assisting on the sly...you never know! Ha Which raises an interesting question. Shouldn't they be able to WIN at the casino??? Have fun and stay safe ~ Love, Penny
From Blog: Fourth day at sea
18th January 2016

Jean Hearst
non-member comment

Thoughts on cruising
We have been on smaller cruises…. around 80 passengers. We also did not get seasick. I read somewhere that it is cheaper to retire on a cruise ship rather than alternatives. Your experience sounds very luxurious. I know you will soak up all of the new adventures. However, I doubt that you can compete with Dolly!
From Blog: Sea gypsys
16th January 2016

Jo Anne Diehl
non-member comment

Friends
Several people you have met at the New Year's Day party have expressed interest in your blog and I have been telling them about your entries. So, hopefully you don't mind that I have sent the entries on to: George & Sandy Kunkle, Tom Longworth & Carol Cramer and Len & Loni Lutter (the ones who love the opera). Keep those stories and pics coming, we are all enjoying them. Jo Anne
From Blog: The Canal
14th January 2016

Lynn Beebe
non-member comment

Locks
We were fascinated by the Locks when were there in 2008 and stayed on that viewing deck in your photo much longer than we had planned! Panama City is big and tall, with a charming old town that is being renovated...and there is a park near the city where I hiked on the last day of our 4 month trip, and saw monkeys for one last time....
From Blog: The Canal
13th January 2016

C. Wellborn
non-member comment

Knots
Distinguo: 18 knots = 20.7 statutory miles per hour.
From Blog: Sea gypsys
11th January 2016

Sally Campbell
non-member comment

Wow!
The McClains are at sea--what a surprise! Where in Polynesia are you stopping en route to Australia? Recall that 2014 in French Polynesia I sailed from Tahiti to the Marquesas Islands cruising two weeks in the Marquesas. A Terrific trip. I hope yours matches up, Then in October I completed the Polynesian triangle with my visit to Easter Island. (In case your lecturer didn't inform you, Polynesia is everything within the triangle formed from Easter Island to New Zealand to Hawaii. Have a fine time!
From Blog: Los Gringos Viejos At Sea
8th January 2016

Steve Engel
non-member comment

Admirables of the Ocean Sea
Great to hear that you are "under weigh"--or nearly so. I take it you never did read David Foster Wallace's great, caustically funny article about a cruise ship adventure he undertook: "Another Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again". You could look it up if wifi extends to mid-Pacific. Let me know your Sydney arrival and departure dates. Maybe there's a chance we could fly Hannah up there to greet the cousins closest to her own peregrine character.
From Blog: Los Gringos Viejos At Sea
7th January 2016

Gay and Don Dawson
non-member comment

HI
Hello Carol and Martin You say you are coming to New Zealand on your cruise. Will you be berthing in Auckland? Do you get time off ship in Auckland? We would love to catch up with you and discuss life since Turkey!!! Would love to hear from you Regards Gay and Don
From Blog: Los Gringos Viejos At Sea

CommentMessage
William Martin McClain
El Gringo Viejo
El Gringo Viejo
On the WordPress blog I was The Old Gringo, but somebody took that name before me on TravelBlog, so I have translated it into Spanish as El Gringo Viejo. I was a Chemistry Professor at Wayne State University until 2010. Now I am retired, and with my wife Carol I travel a bit every year. She loves the Spanish speaking countries, while I prefer countries that don't really exist any more: ancient Rome and Greece and the Greek colonies of Sicily, Italy, and Turkey; maybe also Tolstoy's Russia. I promise not to write up the boring parts.... full info
JoinedSeptember 14th 2012Trips4
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El Gringo Viejo in Turkey
October 1st 2012 -» October 31st 2012
El Gringo Viejo in Guatemala
February 12th 2013 -» March 12th 2013
El Gringo Viejo en Aruba, Curaçao, y Colombia
January 21st 2015 -» March 8th 2015
Los Gringos Viejos At Sea
January 5th 2016 -» February 20th 2016

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