George Sayer, in his biography of C.S. Lewis wrote:

For many years, Christians had been passively on the defensive. You might encounter a man frequently without ever knowing that he was a Christian. It was unlikely that, in ordinary conversation, he would uphold Christian principles and almost unheard-of that he would make a vigorous, logical attack on nonbelievers from a Christian standpoint. Skepticism, tolerance, and even indifference were commonly thought to be the proper attitude toward Christianity. But, for the time being, Jack changed all that. He expressed his views, not only at the Socratic Club, but also at dinner and in the Senior Common Room afterward. This policy made him many enemies.

Although he had transgressed an unwritten code, he persisted in behaving in a way that was intolerable and incorrect by the standards of Oxford society. . . Jack's colleagues . . . most especially could not forgive the fact that the man was serious in wanting to convert others.

(AD 150 - 200)
   "... Christians love all men, but all men persecute them.  Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to live again.  They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything.  They suffer dishonor, but that is their glory.  They are defamed, but vindicated.  A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult.  For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life.  They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.
   To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. . . . The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.  Christians love those who hate them, just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred.  It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together.  The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and declare that will be theirs in heaven.  As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution.  Such is the Christian's lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself..."

I'm back in the states, and staying at my parents' place.  I've been back since last Saturday night, but haven't gotten around to posting the fact until now.  In all, the traveling was very enjoyable, and I feel like I've been blessed to be able to see all the things I have.  Of course, it wasn't free.  A quick estimate of travel expenses puts my daily expenses at around $100/day for the last 9 days of travel, not including the return flight.  Trains, airplanes, hostels, food, and entrance fees really add up.  I could have gotten away with a cheaper trip if I'd planned a bit more, I think, but many of the expenses seemed fixed; I don't think I "splurged" much other than by deciding to take the trip in the first place.

Rome was the most visually and monumentally impressive city I visited.  There are large statutes on huge pedestals that create an aura of power and achievement.  It is host to the Sistine chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Colosseum.  The Colosseum had an ancient [Greek?] history exhibit mostly about events surrounding the Trojan War -- paintings on vases mostly and quotes from Homer.  I would liked to have spent more time there.  The Vatican museum had a ton of interesting pieces -- paintings, frescoes, and tapestries being the bulk.

I hope to avoid such travel and associated expenses for some time.  I'm full for now.

A special thanks to Jen for the Rick Steves travel guides -- they were really helpful and did indeed offer me lots of helpful guidance; Jen and my parents for funding Kara's flight out to Germany -- really, that's very generous of you; Julie for the warm rabbit fur hat, which saved me from the cold and acute discomfort on several occasions - my ears are especially grateful; Melike for the gloves - they were to my hands what Julie's hat was to my head; Kara for traveling companionship -- I hope you had a good time; Mehmet for letting me live with your relatives for four days, Mehmet's uncle (who I'm sure will never read this) for the thermal shoe inserts -- they were an odd gift, but were for me just what my feet needed (those who know about my shoes' degradation will know how useful this was to me); Bogdan for hosting me on Christmas and giving me Polish Christmas food; Ivan for making sure I saw Auschwitz; everybody (Brooke, Batman) for their travel recommendations, and the Irish girls who let me borrow their cell phone to use as an alarm clock, even though it didn't work.  Except for that last one, which actually was shortly made up for by Air India being behind schedule (TTL), I felt several times on this trip amazed at how God provided for my specific needs though all these different people.  Many of the gifts I received were unasked-for and unexpected, but proved very helpful, and to be just what I needed.  I feel as if I'm writing Acknowledgements, which is strange for travel, but I wanted to say thanks to all those who helped along the way.