RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA, 1887

The tour begins.

May 11, 1887 – Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train. Their next destination was DRESDEN, “one of the best cities in Germany”.

DRESDEN

-They visited Dr. Adolph B. Meyer.

-Rizal was deeply impressed by a painting of

“Prometheus Bound”.

-They met Dr. Feodor Jagor,

they plan to visit Leitmeritz to see Blumentritt.

-Teschen ( Now Decin, Czechoslovakia)

was their stop- over after leaving Dresden. Rizal and Viola sent a wire to Blumentritt , suggested by Dr. Jagor.

First Meeting with Blumentritt

May 13, 1887 , 1:30 p.m. Rizal and Viola on board, arrived at the railroad station of Lietmeritz (Litomerice), Bohemia. Professor Blumentritt carrying a sketch of Rizal to identify his Filipino friends.

He warmly received Rizal and Viola.

At this train station Rizal arrived from Germany.

Rizal and Blumentritt met in person and greeted each other in fluent German. Blumentritt loved Rizal as his son because of his talents.

-Blumentritt , helped two tourist get a room at Hotel Krebs. They stayed in Leitmeritz from May 17, 1887

Dr. Ferdinand Blumentritt`

Beautiful Memories of Lietmeritz

-warm hospitality of the Blumentritt family. A good Cook of his wife.

-Blumentritt invited them to a Beer Garden, they met Burgomaster and he intoduced them. Burgomaster amazed and great admiration to Rizal because he can speak German fluently.

-Rizal praising Austria’s idyllic scene, nature loving and noble people when Blumentritt invited them to a meeting of the “Tourists Club of Lietmeritz. (May 14.)

-Blumentritt introduced them to Dr. Czepelak a scientist of Europe and Professor Robert Klutschak an eminent naturalist with having nice conversation. (May 15.)

Prague.

-They met Dr. Wellkomm a Professor of University of Prague.

-Rizal and Viola visited the Tomb of Copernicus, the famous astronomer, the museum of natural history, bacteriological laboratories, famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno, the Catholic Saint was imprisoned and many more.

- Rizal and Viola left Prague. According to Viola “ nothing of importance happened” in this city.

Vienna

-May 20 , they went to Vienna “the Queen of Danube”.

-They met Norfenfals, one of the greatest novelist in Europe.

-Rizal and Viola stayed in Hotel Metropole. They

visited churches, museum, art galleries, theaters

and public park. -They met friend of Blumentritt-

Masner and Nordmann-They left Vienna May 25.

Danubian Voyage to Lintz

-May 25, Rizal and Viola left Vienna on a river boat to see the beautiful sights of Danube River.

-they saw a famous river ,

the Danube River.

-Rizal noticed that

passenger on river boats use

paper napkin, which was novelty

to him.

-Viola said “ paper napkin more hygienic

and economical than cloth napkin”

From Lintz to Rheinfall

-They traveled to Salsburg then Munich after that

they went to Nuremberg, one of the oldest cities

of Germany.

-they also visited to Ulm, the Cathedral of this City

was the “ largest and tallest in all Germany”.

-Next, they went to Stuttgart, Baden and then Rheinfall. They saw the waterfall “the most beautiful waterfall in Europe.

Crossing the Frontier to Switzerland

-they crossed the Frontier to Schaffhausen,

Switzerland. They stayed in this city from July 2

to 3 1887. They continued their tour to Bassel,

Bern and Lausanne.

Geneva

-Rizal and Viola left on a little boat, went to Foggy

Leman Lake to Geneva. The beautiful city in

- Europe. Rizal conversed with them in three

languages: French, German and Italian.

-June 19, 1887 Rizal treated Viola in his 26th

Birthday.

-June 23. Rizal and Viola parted ways- Viola returned to Barcelona and Rizal continue his tour in Italy.

Rizal in Italy

Rizal in Italy-he visited Turin, Milan, Venice and Florence.-June 27, 1887 – he reached Rome “ City of Ceasar”.-He was thrilled by the sights and memories of

Eternal City. Describing to Blumentritt, the “ grandeur that was Rome”.

-June 29th , Feast Day of St. Peter and St. Paul. He visited Vatican, “city of Popes”. And the capital of Christendom.

-After that, Rizal back to his Hotel, he wrote to Blumentritt, “ I am tired as a dog, but I will sleep as a God”

-After a wonderful sojourn in Rome, Rizal prepared to return to the Philippines.