Jose Rizal is the most traveled Filipino hero in history.

The travel and adventure of Jose Rizal are an important facet of

his education and sophistication through which he learned the culture and politics of other countries. Rizals first trip
abroad was on 1882 bound for Spain. The travel story of Jose Rizal constitutes part of his struggle to bring changes in his
native land.

The first stop over of Rizal on his way to Spain is Singapore, which he spent for sightseeing the city including its famed
Botanical Garden, Buddhist temples, the monument of Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles, the founder of Singapore
It was Rizals journey to Colombo, Sri Lanka that was important for him to improve his knowledge of the
French language while on board a French ship, Djemnah.

Egypt
En route through the Suez Canal, Rizal got off at the Red Sea terminal and was amazed by the impressive
moonlight scenery in Suez and was engrossed with the multicultural people and language of the place.
Italy
Rizal reached Naples, Italy and was briefly astounded by its dynamic citizens and the picturesque wonders
of the municipality particularly the Mount Vesuvius and the Castle of St. Telmo
Rizal arrived at France for the first time at Marseilles, where he visited the Chateau dlf, the fortress
famous as the setting for Alexandre Dumas The Count of Monte Cristo.
He arrived Barcelona, Spain where he met some Filipinos. He also made his first nationalistic essay he
wrote abroad, Amor Patrio which was later published in Diarong Tagalog. He left Barcelona for Madrid, to
pursue his medical studies in the Universidad Central de Madrid. He also took courses in Philosophy and
Letters and took French, German, and English lessons from private tutors.
On 1883, Rizal visited the French capital of France of France, where he was fascinated by its architectural
wonders (e.g. Place de la Concorde and the Arch of Triumph). He visited the Leannec Hospital to observe
and became an apprentice of Dr. Louis de Weckert to specialized in ophthalmology. He also joined Free
Masonry and was impressed with the freedom they enjoyed in openly criticizing the government.
Germany
In Heiderlberg, Rizal worked as apprentice of Dr. Otto Becker and was able to visit picturesque spots in the
historical city including the Heidelberg Castle and the ancient churches.In Leipzig, he attended lectures in
the University of Leipzig and worked on with his mission of enlightening his Filipino brethren with inspiring
stories by translating the story of the Swiss independence and some of Hans Christian Andersens Fairy
Tales to Filipino.In Dresden, he met Dr. Adolph Meyer and was impressed for the first time of the spirituality
of a Catholic Holy MassIn Berlin, Rizal was captivated by its scientific atmosphere and absence of racial
discrimination. He wrote the Tagalog Metrical Art (Taglische Verkunst) and published Noli Me Tangere.In
Leitmeritz, Bohemia, Rizal bonded with his close friend and professor, Ferdinand Blumentritt

Czech Republic
In Prague, he met Dr. Willkomm from the University of Prague who toured him to the citys historic spots
including the tomb of Copernicus and the National History Museum.
Austria
In Vienna, Rizal was met by a famous European novelist, Norfenfals, who toured him to the churches, art
galleries, and other tourists spots in the city especially along the Danube Rivera.In Salzburg, Rizal enjoyed
the baroque architecture of the old town.
Bavaria
Rizal went to Munich and enjoyed its famous beer, to Nuremberg to see its doll factory and Ulm to see the
biggest cathedral in all of Germany.
Switzerland
Rizal saw Rhein falls, the largest plain waterfall in Europe and head towards other Swiss cities Basel, Bern,
and Lausanne.Rizal was particularly fascinated with Geneva where the people speak French, German, and
Italian.
Italy
Rizal toured the Italys famous cities namely Milan, Venice and Florence, known for their arts and culture.
He also visited the Vatican in Rome and was particularly overwhelmed by St. Peters Church.
Hong Kong
Frustrated of the lack of progress of the reforms he was pushing through, Rizal went to this British colony
and stayed in the house of Jose Maria Basa
Macao
Rizal stayed in the house of Juan Lecaroz and observed a botanical garden.
Japan
Rizal stayed in Grand Hotel in Tokyo and observed the discipline and customs of the Japanese people.
US
Rizal toured the US in 1888 which included San Francisco, California; Reno, Nevada; Ogden, Provo and Salt
Lake City in Utah; Denver, Colorado, Farmington, Connecticut; Nebraska; Chicago, Illinois; and finally,
Alabany in New York City.
United Kingdom
From New York City, Rizal went to Liverpool and then London, England as he started to conceptualize a
continuation of his first novel. While contributing writings and essays calling for reforms in La Solidaridad,
Rizal moved back and forth in England, France and Belgium during which he also wrote his second novel, El
Filibusterismo. In June 1892, on board the ship Don Juan, he travelled back to the Philippines from Hong
Kong, which culminated the travel story of Jose Rizal abroad.

Philippines
Back in the Philippines, Rizals travel destinations in the Philippines included a visit to Bulacan and
Pampanga before he was finally exiled in Dapitan, in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.Rizal was
brought back to Fort Santiago where he spent his last days until his execution.

First Travel
In 1885, the 24-year old Rizal went to Paris, France to pursue his career as an ophthalmologist. He tried his skills in music and
studied solfeggio, piano and voice culture for a month and a half. He worked as an assistant to the renowned ophthalmologist,
Dr. Louis de Weckert, and left for Heidelberg after a year. He settled in the house of a Lutheran, Karl Ullmer and worked in the
clinics of famous Polish and German ophthalmologists, Dr. Javier Galezowsky and Dr. Otto Becker, respectively. In Heidelberg,
he was astound with the flowers along the Neckar River, especially the forget-me-nots, which made him compose the poem, A
Las Flores de Heidelberg (To the Flowers of Heidelberg), on April 22, 1886. It was also in this German city where the longdistance friendship between Jose Rizal and Ferdinand Blumentritt began.
Rizal traveled to Leipzig and attended some lectures at its local university. After which he went to Berlin to further study
ophthalmology and other languages, to get familiar with the scenic Germany, to be part of the scientific community, and to finish
his novel, Noli Me Tangere. However, he was struck by financial problem in Berlin as he was short of allowance from Calamba.
Back to the Philippines
The stunning beauty of the European lands did not stop Rizal from continuously adoring his native land. After the Noli Me
Tangere was published, he decided to return to Calamba despite the many warnings he received from friends and relatives alike.
He had four reasons for returning to the Philippines:
1. to perform an operation on Doa Teodora's eyes;
2. to defend his oppressed countrymen more effectively than doing so in a foreign land;
3. to find out how his Noli was received by the Filipinos and Spaniards; and
4. to know the reason for Leonor Rivera's long silence.
Aboard the steamer Djemnah, Rizal sailed to the East via the Suez Canal on June 3, 1887 and reached Saigon on the 30th of
July. From Saigon, he boarded the steamer Hayfong bound for Manila. On the sixth day of August, he arrived in Manila and
visited some friends, and reached Calamba two days later. In his native land, he opened a medical clinic and restored
his mother's vision. Such miraculous news spread throughout the community like wild fire, thus, his clinic was flocked by
people aspiring for a better eyesight. Newly arrived from Germany, he began to be known as Doctor Uliman (from the word
Aleman).
Regarding his novel Noli Me Tangere, Rizal met Governor General Emilio Terrero who informed him of the charges against him.
As a defense, Rizal told Terrero that the Noli only exposes the reality. Not having read the book yet and out of curiosity, the
governor general asked for a copy of the controversial novel, which he later confessed that he enjoyed reading. He saw no
problem on the book, yet to protect Rizal's life which was then in danger, he assigned Jose Taviel de Andrade, a young Spanish
lieutenant, as Rizal's personal bodyguard. Soon enough, the attackers and defenders of the novel resurfaced.

Second Travel
Realizing that his family's and friends' safety were at risked; and that his fight against the Spaniards have better chance of
winning if he'd stay abroad, Rizal, six months after, finally decided to sail back to Europe. Before his departure, a friend
from Lipa City, Batangas asked of him a poem dedicated to the industrious workers in their town. Privileged, Rizal wrote
the Himno Al Trabajo (Hymn to Labor).
A glance of East Asia
On February 3, 1888, for the second time, Rizal sailed to Hongkong as a frustrated being who wanted the utmost reform in his
native land. Terreros former secretary, Jose Sainz de Varranda, followed Rizal in the said British colony, and was believed to be
commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on the hero. After almost three weeks, on board the American
steamer, Oceanic, he left Hongkong and sailed to Japan where he was invited by Secretary Juan Perez Caballero to live at
the Spanish Legation. His instinct told him that it was a bait a way for the Spanish officials to keep track of his activities. And
since it was economical to stay at the legation and he believed that he had nothing to hide, he accepted it. Rizal was impressed
by the scenic Japan and had keenly observed the life, customs and culture of the people. He had fallen in love not only with the
view but more to its women, particularly with the 23-year old O-Sei-San (a.k.a. Usui Seiko).
Sail to the West
Rizal was almost tempted to settle in Japan with O-Sei-San, but on April 13, 1888, Rizal boarded the English
steamer, Belgic bound for the United States, reaching the land on April 28. He visited San Francisco, left it on the second day for
Oklahoma, then to Sacramento, then to Reno, and finally to New York. On May 16, 1888 the ship, City of Rome sailed for
Liverpool and where he decided to stay in London until March 1899. Rizal chose to stay in London so that he could improve his
English skills, study and do an annotation of Antonio Morga's Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas and because he believed that the
said English city was a safe place for him to carry on the reforms he wanted for the Philippines. He stayed at Dr. Antonio Ma.
Regidor's home and boarded at the Beckett family where he fell in love with Gertrude.
In Great Britain
In London, Rizal received both good news and bad news from home. The good news was that Rev. Vicente Garcia was
defending his Noli from the attacks of the friars. On the other hand, the bad news were that the Filipino signatories of the
Petition of 1888 and the tenants of the Calamba agrarian trouble were facing persecution; that his brothers-in-law, Manuel T.
Hidalgo and Mariano Herbosa, were exiled to Bohol and was denied Christian burial, respectively; and his friend, Laureano
Viado, a UST medical student, was imprisoned for possessing a copy of his Noli. During his stay in this country, Rizal also made
used of his time in writing essays and articles for the La Solidaridad. On June 12, 1889, with Filipino and Spanish friends, they
founded the Asociacion Hispano-Filipino which aimed for union and reforms. After ten months, Rizal left London and departed
for Paris.
In France
In Paris, Rizal continued his study on various languages and practiced his artistic skills, and finished two statues - The Beggar
and The Maid With A Basket. He organized a social club called Kidlat Clubwhich brought together young Filipinos residing in
France. Soon, the members of the said club founded a new Filipino society the Indios Bravos, an organization which
envisioned Filipinos being recognized by Spain for being excellent in various fields of knowledge.

By January 1890, Rizal's annotation of the Sucesos was finally printed and publihed by the Garnier Freres.
In Belgium
With his roommate, Jose Albert, Rizal celebrated Christmas in Paris. Shortly after New Year, he visited London for the last time
and on January 28, 1890, left Paris for Brussels. With Albert, they left the extravagant and gay social life in Paris and stayed in a
boarding house owned by the Jacoby sisters in Brussels. Rizal continued contributing for La Solidaridad under the
pseudonyms Dimas Alang andLaong Laan. From Calamba, Rizal received letters telling that the agrarian trouble in the province
was getting worse, and as such, he decided to go home. But instead of going home, a letter from Pacianotold him that they
already lost the case against the Dominicans and they were in need of a lawyer who would defend their family and the families
in Calamba from Madrid. Rizal traveled to Madrid to seek justice but in vain he could not find the right person and he heard
that his family was already evicted from their land in Calamba and other family members were banished to Mindoro and Manila.
In Spain
Rizal had many misadventures in Madrid. For one, he challenged Antonio Luna and Wenceslao Retana in a duel. With Luna, it
was about the latter's frustration with his unsuccessful love affair with Nellie Boustead, and so gave negative remarks on the
lady which Rizal did not tolerated. The other encounter was with Retana who had insulted Rizal and his family by writing in La
Epoca, an anti-Filipino newspaper, that the Rizal family in Calamba was ejected from their lands because they did not pay their
rents. It is also from this city where Rizal heard the news of Leonor Rivera's marriage with Henry Kipping, an Englishman, which
terrible broke his heart.
Another marked event in Madrid was the Marcelo H. del Pilar-Jose Rizal rivalry for leadership in the Asociacion Hispano Filipino.
A faction emerged from the Filipinos in Madrid, the Rizalistas and Pilaristas, Rizal and del Pilar's compatriots, respectively,
during the organization's election. Losing the election, Rizal decided to go back home, fearing that his presence may result to
bigger and stronger faction among the Filipinos in Madrid. But instead of going straight to Hongkong, he went back to Brussels
to finish his second novel, the El Filibusterismo. (For a detailed discussion regarding the novel, click here).
Back in Hongkong
After the Fili was published, Rizal left Europe. Aboard the S.S. Melbourne, he sailed to Hongkong where he lived for seven
months. His reasons for venturing to Hongkong were the following :
1. to leave behind his rivalry with del Pilar;
2. to facilitate a Propaganda Movement in Hongkong; and
3. to be proximate to his family in the Philippines.
On November 20, 1891, Rizal arrived in Hongkong and was cordially welcomed by the Filipino residents in the city, particularly,
his friend Jose Ma. Basa. He resided at No. 5 D' Aguilar Street, No. 2 Rednaxela Terrace and opened a medical clinic there.
Rizal had a continued correspondence with his family in Calamba and had been aware of the unsettled agrarian problem.
Through a letter from his brother-in-law, Manuel T. Hidalgo, he had been informed of the deportation of twenty-five persons in
Calamba, including the Rizal family. This news made Rizal even more desperate to return to Manila, but his sorrow was replaced
by surprise when his family visited him in Hongkong and celebrated the 1891 Christmas with him.

While in Hongkong, Rizal practiced his medical career. With the help of his friend, Dr. Lorenzo P. Marquez, they built a large
clientle and opened a medical clinic where he was recognized as an excellent eye surgeon. He was equally supported and
aided both morally and financially by his family and friends with his chosen career.
Another marked event during Rizal's stay in Hongkong was his plan to move the landless Filipinos to Borneo and transform the
said wilderness into a New Calamba through the so called Borneo Colonization Project. In April 1892, he visited Borneo and
negotiated with the British authorities who are willing to provide 100,000 acres of land for the Filipinos. Many Filipino patriots
found this project amusing, thus, promoted the said project. However, there were a number who objected it, one of which was
Rizal's brother-in-law, Hidalgo. Twice did Rizal wrote a letter addressed to Governor GeneralEulogio Despujol informing his
Borneo colonization project, with whom he received no response. Instead, Despujol commanded the Spanish consul-general in
Hongkong to notify Rizal that such project was very unpatriotic, and by immigrating Filipinos to Borneo, the Philippines will surely
be lacking of laborers.
Despite the many oppositions from friends and relatives, he decided to return to Manila on the following reasons:
1. to discuss with Governor General Despujol his Borneo colonization project;
2. to form the La Liga Filipina in the Philippines; and
3. to prove that Eduardo de Lete's allegations on him and his family in Calamba were wrong.
Before his departure, he wrote three more letters the first addressed to his parents and friends; the second one, to the
Filipinos; and the last to Governor General Eulogio Despujol. Instead of having the protection he desired, Rizal and his sister,
Lucia, fell into the Spanish trap a case was secretly filed against Rizal, and Despujol ordered his secretary, Luis de la Torre, to
verify whether the patriot had naturalized himself as German citizen or not. And so the siblings sailed across the China Sea
without prior knowledge of what awaits them in the Philippines.