I'm in Germany right now, trying to get into the shoes of our national hero, Dr. José Rizal. Here is my goal and some ideas regarding this month-long trip: Oct.1 to Oct.25, 2012
- I shall attempt to get into Rizal's mind-set including getting into the soles of his weather-beaten shoes, as he negotiated his train travels all over Germany and Europe. During his time, the German railroad system had the best marvelous endeavor in Europe. Rizal noted in his diary that the 3rd class train coach in Germany is much better than the 1st class coaches of all Spain.
- How did Rizal manage? I'm lucky there are express trains and smooth communication interface today. What must it be like in 1886? You'll get a feel as you travel with me in re-tracing Rizal's footsteps.
- Anyone can go and visit the places where he lived. Yesterday,I just received an email from Sir Gerhard Meuller of Berlin informing me that the Philippines has a "Rizal in Cyberspace" where pictures of sites related to Rizal are included. The crucial question remains: "Where are these sites really? Are these markers and sites original. or were they reshuffled, bombed out, during WW II, lost somewhere in the rubble of Germany's reconstruction and have been replaced? Have we looked but did not see?
- I need to get into the structure of the environment in Germany. We know that scholars who Rizal met in Germany and Austria gave more lasting impressions on the young Rizal. Who were they and what kind of influence did he appreciate the most?
In other words, I would like to send to my blog followers a personal perspective as I travel all over
Germany, Belgium, France, tracing the footsteps of Rizal within the next few weeks of October..
Germany, Belgium, France, tracing the footsteps of Rizal within the next few weeks of October..
These ideas are mainly brought about by the Knights of Rizal in each country (Berlin Chapter, Sir Gerhard Meuller; Heidelberg-WilhelmsfeldChapter, Sir Rainer J. Weber, Sir Lucien Spittael Belgium Chapter and Sir Bernard Pot, Paris Chapter. They and their Ladies, will ensure that I get to see and then give meaning to the Rizal's travels.
Danke schön.
My picture shots will come later as you meet my PKOSA* as I blog around See ya!!
Penélope
PKOSA (Penélope's Knights (of Rizal) of Shining Armours).
In my next blog, I will relate how Sir Rainer and I imaginatively reconstructed Rizal's activity regarding the Alcohol lamp and his poem Ultimo Adios on the 29th of December, in his Fort Santiago cell.
