Thanks, everyone, for the kind words. My advice on travel? My philosophy on travel was formed 30 years ago when I read "Europe on $15.00 a Day." According to the author, if you want to learn about a different country, you must stay where the locals stay, eat what the locals eat and do what the locals do. From my father I learned to walk and walk and walk. To put it another way: after a certain point, spending money doesn't make travel better, it makes it worse.
I've posted a simple webpage with a few of our pics
here. The pics aren't great -- especially when you compare them with the brilliant stuff dr1 contributor pgerace takes (check the recent trip reports for his work). But in my defense, I took them with disposable cameras -- and I don't have any talent anyway. I hope they provide a little enjoyment.
Will I return? I don't know. The world is a large place. Next summer we're going to Greece and Turkey. But I do know our trip to the DR was a good one. I know that because my affection for the place continues to grow. There's a pleasant melancholy when you miss a place. The best illustration of that occurs in "Local Hero," maybe the best movie ever about learning to love another place and people. I won't give it away, but the last five seconds is perfectly evocative. Go rent it.