Wow! So sad! I could feel Luke (and Lauren)'s sadness; we all feel like crying when we leave. How great it is, though, that we are able to give our kids this vacation over & over!! My one friend never took her kids (they're now all in their 20s); she always said "They're too young; they won't remember (or appreciate) it." Now I ask her if she thinks she'll go with her grandchildren! How EARLY you finish school!! Do you start in mid-August? I live in Jersey & teach also. We start the day after Labor Day and always end around June 20-22. THANK YOU SO MUCH for another awesome report. It really is so kind of you to treat us to every aspect of your trip! You are a gifted writer and it seems like you are one of our friends b/c of your writing style. Hope I see your pretrippie next year! Again, many thanks for "inviting" us to share your little piece of the World!!