3. The Tour Begins May 11. 1887: At dawn, Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train for Dresden, “one of the best cities in Germany.” In Dresden: Regional flower exposition; “numerous plant varieties of extraordinary beauty and size.” Visited Adolph Meyer, met Dr. Jagor Teschen (now Decin, Czecholovakia): Rizal and Viola sent wire to Blumentritt in Leitmeritz
4. Maximo Viola “It was one of the best cities of Germany and in its study we spent more time than what was necessary due to the timely celebration of a regional exhibition of floriculture [The cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants. – rly]. We were entertained for sometime by the contemplation of such a numerous variety of flowers of extraordinary size and beauty, such as the leaves of aquatic plants of some two meters in diameter. In visiting monuments and other notable buildings and museums the same Rizalian procedure already known was adopted. The other details of our visit were to be found in the guidebook already referred to. There being nothing more to study we moved on to
5. Maximo Viola on Teschen This city offers nothing notable in comparison to other cities already visited and nevertheless we stopped here due to the suggestion of Dr. Feodor Jagor made through a casual encounter we had at the Dresden Exhibition. We telegraphed Professor Blumentritt about our arrival from the previous city of our stop, for being of a nervous temperament, our sudden appearance might hurt him. After sending the telegram we continued our trip to
6. Leitmeritz May 13, 1887, 1:30 p.m., Rizal and Viola arrived by train at the railroad station of Leitmeritz, Bohemia, and were greeted there by Blumentritt. Prof. Blumentritt helped Rizal & Viola to get a room at Hotel Krebs, after which he brought them to his home and introduced him to his wife and family.
8. Memories of Leitmeritz Beer garden at Bohemila; met the burgomaster Tourists’ Club of Leitmeritz (where Blumentritt was secretary) Met Dr. Carlos Czepelak, renowned Polish scholar in Europe Was also introduced to Prof. Robert Klutschak, an eminent naturalist .
9. Prague Rizal and Viola left Leitmeritz on May 16, 1887 and visited the historic city of Prague. Blumentritt’s letter of recommendation introduced them to Dr. Willkomm, professor of natural history in the University of Prague. Rizal and Viola visited the tomb of Copernicus, the famous astronomer; the museum of natural history; the bacteriological laboratories; the famous cave where San Juan Nepomuceno was imprisoned; and the bridge from which this saint was hurled into the river.
10. Brunn and Vienna From Prague to Brunn, and from Brunn to Vienna (capital of Austria-Hungary) on May 20. Armed with a letter from Blumentritt, they met with Norfenfals, one of the greatest novelists in Europe during that time. In Vienna, rizal received his lost diamond stickpin. It was found by a maid in Hotel Krebs and was given to Blumentritt, who, in turn, forwarded it to Rizal in Vienna.
11. Linz, Salzburg, and Munich Sightseeing In Munich: “here one could drink the best beer in Germany” (M. Viola).
12. Nurenberg “One of the old cities of Germany for the architectural style of its buildings as well as for its aspect and the plan of its streets. Among the varied impressions gathered of this ancient city I recall only the different apparatus used for torture by the Inquisition, some of human form in whose cavity could be enclosed perfectly a person sentenced to suffer martyrdom through iron nails arranged in such a way that when the apparatus operated the person inside it would be hit immediately by the tips of the nails on all parts of his body. Other instruments of torture simulated horses with their saddles bull of nails protruding in all directions, stirrups that compressed until the bones of the feet of the hapless condemned man were fractured by means of certain springs.
13. Nurenberg “All this could not fail to hurt our feelings, especially of Dr. Rizal who had paid much attention to them. He also took notice of a very deep well that in order for a pail to reach its bottom two or three minutes ere needed. The favorite industry here was the large scale manufacturing of dolls which invaded all the markets of the world.” (M. Viola)
14. Ulm, Stuttgart, Baden Cathedral of Ulm being the largest and tallest in all Germany. RHEINFALL or CASCADE OF THE RHINE - the grandest cascade of Europe
15. Last Cities... SCHAFFHAUSEN , BASEL (BALE), BERN, LAUSANNE GENEVA: “On the fourth or fifth day of our stay there, or rather on 19 June 1887, he told me that he was 26 years old. After a few more days of our usual excursions, we checked our luggage, each one going his own way, he to Italy and I to Barcelona. ” (M. Viola)
16. Rizal’s Return To perform an operation on DoñaTeodora's eyes; To defend his oppressed countrymen more effectively than doing so in a foreign land; To find out how his Noli was received by the Filipinos and Spaniards; and To know the reason for Leonor Rivera's long silence.
Notes de l'éditeur
Leonor Rivera --the woman loved by the national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Born in Camiling, Tarlac in 1865(?), she was actually a cousin of Rizal, his mother being related to her father side. Their relationship was kept secret to the very end. They exchanged letters secretly writing them with invisible ink. When Rizal traveled to Europe, they constantly exchanged letters, but eventually the relationship was marred by Leonor's parents who eventually discovered the affair. She was forced to marry Mr. Henry Kipping, one of the engineers of the Manila-Dagupan Railway(Ferrocarril de Manila).
