Area of No Expertise

I've not done my research. I wouldn't know a megapixel from a megaphone. Yet, I'm interested in getting a digital camera. I've seen some of the great pictures taken by friends with their slick little digital cameras and how much better they look than the shots taken by my cheesey little camera phone.

So, I turn to you -- the two or three people who read my blog -- and ask for a recommendation on an inexpensive but reliable digital camera. I'll be mostly using it for taking tourist shots ("Holiday, eh? Holiday? Nudge nudge wink wink snap snap dream dream say no more!") and the like.

Thanks in advance!