For the past five-and-a-half years, we have been reading with pride our son Seth’s Frugal Travel column in The New York Times. His cover story on Ecuador in the Sunday Travel Section on February 7th, was his last.

During those years, he rarely slept in the same bed for more than a couple of nights. He traveled by bike, bus, boat, car, train, plane and by foot, usually alone, occasionally with friends, and five times with his very lucky parents.

He lugged his computer, his photography equipment and God knows what else with him. He lost at least one cell phone (crossing a river). He produced serious videos. He often found himself without Internet access when he needed to file a story. He ate street food everywhere. He relied on the kindness of strangers who often became his friends.

The times he was in danger were unknown to us, at least until they were over.

It will be strange to read the stories by his successor, but it was a tough job and it was enough.

We could not be prouder.