first trip to europe of rizal

15 Nov The Travels of Rizal

Disillusioned with how Filipinos in the Philippines were regarded as second-class citizens in institutions of learning and elsewhere, the National Hero Jose Rizal left the country in May 1882 to pursue further studies abroad. He enrolled in a course in medicine at the Universidad Central de Madrid in Spain. In June 1883, he traveled to France to observe how medicine was being practiced there.

After his three-month sojourn in France, Rizal returned to Madrid and thought about publishing a book that exposed the colonial relationship of Spain and the Philippines. This idea was realized in March 1887, with the publication of the novel Noli Me Tangere in Germany.

Rizal was actively involved in the Propaganda movement, composed of Filipinos in Spain who sought to direct the attention of Spaniards to the concerns of the Spanish colony in the Philippines. He wrote articles for publications in Manila and abroad; convened with overseas Filipinos to discuss their duty to the country; and called on Spanish authorities to institute reforms in the Philippines, such as granting freedom of the press and Filipino representation in the Spanish Cortes.

Rizal returned to Manila in August 1887, after five years in Europe. However, his homecoming was met by the friars’ furor over Noli Me Tangere . The Archbishop of Manila issued an order banning the possession and reading of the novel, an order that was later reinforced by the governor-general. Six months later, pressured by the Spanish authorities as well as by his family and friends to leave the country and avoid further persecution, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong.

From Hong Kong, Rizal traveled to Macau and Japan before going to America. Entering San Francisco, California, in April 1888, he visited the states of Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Illinois, and New York. He jotted down his observations of the landscape in his diary.

Rizal arrived in England in May 1888. In August, he was admitted to the British Museum, where he copied Antonio de Morga’s massive study of the Philippines, Sucesos de las Islas Filipinas , which Rizal later annotated for publication “as a gift to the Filipinos.” In the museum he devoted his time reading all the sources on Philippine history that he could find. He kept up his correspondence with various people, including his family, who were being oppressed by the Spanish religious landowners; the Filipino patriots in Spain; and his Austrian friend, Ferdinand Blumentritt, with whom he planned to form an association of Philippine scholars. From 1888 to 1890 he shuttled between London and Paris, where he wrote ethnographic and history-related studies, as well as political articles. He also frequently visited Spain, where he met with fellow Filipino intellectuals like Marcelo H. del Pilar, Mariano Ponce, and Graciano Lopez-Jaena.

In March 1891, Rizal finished writing his second novel, El Filibusterism o, in France. He planned to publish the book in Belgium, but was financially hard up. His brother’s support from back home was delayed in coming, and he was scrimping on meals and expenses. Finally, in September 1890, El Filibusterismo was published in Ghent using donations from Rizal’s friends.

Meanwhile, a rivalry had ensued between Rizal and del Pilar over the leadership of the Asociación Hispano Filipino in Spain. Rizal decided to leave Europe to avoid the worsening rift between the Rizalistas and Pilaristas, and to help maintain unity among Filipino expatriates. After staying for some time in Hong Kong, where he practiced medicine and planned to build a “New Calamba” by relocating landless Filipinos to Borneo, Rizal came home to the Philippines in June 1892.

10 Comments

Jessa pepito

Hi ,good eve .can I use this information for my brother’s research?thank you ..

Filipinas Heritage Library

Sure. Please just cite accordingly. Thank you!

I think it was September 1891 when Jose Rizal published his second novel, El Filibusterismo. And also, thank you for the information! :)))

Edalyn Jude Egan

Hi, I was confused with the dates when he finished El Filibusterismo. It was stated that he finished it in March 1891, but it was published in September 1890? Is it also 1891? Thank you!

Greggo Dela Cruz

Good day can I use this info for my module?

Roel Camaso

hello! can I use this information for my subject research?

Raquel tacay

Can i get some of the information here for my assignment.?

Beverly Anos

Can i view Rizal’s sojourn abroad?

Can I have a research on rizal’s sojourn abroad?

Jessica ongog

Hi good afternoon ca i ask you a question about the comment of Jose Rizal in europe

Lunes, Setyembre 16, 2013

• RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887)

7 (mga) komento:

thank you sa info :)

thanchu for the info.. mwuah!

Tang ina mo

Naalis ng may-ari ang komentong ito.

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Thank you so much for the information. Again i learned a a lot about our National Hero. It's a must for every Filipino to know about Dr.Jose Rizal.

• Blog Archives
• RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (1888) · April 28, 1888- the steamer Belgic, with Rizal on board, docked at San Francisco on Saturday morning · May 4, 1888- Friday afternoon, th...
• RIZAL’S GRAND TOUR OF EUROPE WITH VIOLA (1887) · May 11, 1887- Rizal and Viola left Berlin by train · Dresden- one of the best cities in Germany · Prometheus Bound-painting wherein Riza...
• IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885) -After finishing the 4th year of the medical course in the University of Santo Tomas, Rizal decided to complete his studies in Spain -Asid...

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Blog archive.

• SECOND HOMECOMING AND THE LIGA FILIPINA
• DECISION TO RETURN TO MANILA
• WRITINGS IN HONG KONG
• BORNEO COLONIZATION PROJECT
• OPHTHALMIC SURGEON IN HONG KONG (1891-1892)
• COMPARISON BETWEEN NOLI ME TANGERE and EL FILIBUST...
• EL FILIBUSTERISMO PUBLISHED IN GHENT (1891)
• BIARRITZ VACATION
• MISFORTUNES IN MADRID (1890-91)
• IN BELGIAN BRUSSELS (1890)
• ANNOTATED EDITION OF MORGA PUBLISHED
• RIZAL’S SECOND SOJOURN IN PARIS AND THE UNIVERSAL ...
• WRITINGS IN LONDON
• RIZAL AND THE LA SOLIDARIDAD NEWSPAPER
• RIZAL’S VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES (1888)
• ROMANTIC INTERLUDE IN JAPAN (1888)
• IN HONGKONG AND MACAO (1888)
• STORM OVER THE NOLI ME TANGERE
• FIRST HOMECOMING (1887-1888)
• RIZAL IN ITALY
• NOLI ME TANGERE PUBLISHED IN BERLIN (1887)
• PARIS TO BERLIN (1885-1887)
• FIRST VISIT TO PARIS (1883)
• LIFE IN MADRID
• IN SUNNY SPAIN (1882-1885)
• ►  Hulyo (6)

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“Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers” Marks Rizal’s 160th Birthday

The documentary can still be seen on ANC channel on YouTube by following this link.

Little known aspects of Dr. Jose Rizal´s first trip to Europe are revealed in the new documentary, Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers.  The project began when former Senator Loren Legarda toured Heidelberg and the small German town of Wilhelmsfeld in 1886.  The memories of that stay, as well as Rizal´s correspondence and memorabilia, have since become part of the Ullmer family´s legacy through three generations.

In the middle of production plans, the project came to a halt due to the global pandemic that changed the world in 2020.  However, with the perseverance of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin led by Ambassador Theresa de Vega and the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, headed by Consul General Evelyn Austria Garcia, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda, the documentary took shape and was finished in time for the celebration of our national hero´s 160 th birthday this month.

Amidst the challenging circumstances, Legarda, who is the visionary behind the project, was inspired and uplifted by Rizal´s life. “Rizal lived in a time of barriers created by skin color, religion, political ideologies, and colonialism.  Yet he broke through these barriers to affirm his humanity and his genius.  His trip to Germany was marked by the completion of the “Noli Me Tangere”.  It was also on that first trip that he wrote the immortal poem, “A Las Flores de Heidelberg.”  He was studying ophthalmology and he was also being introduced to the academic circles of Berlin as a culture bearer for scientists and humanists like Blumentritt and Virchow.  His time in Wilhelmsfeld, though short, was marked by the friendship and acceptance of the Ullmer family, who treated him as a friend.  It was challenging time for Rizal, but it was also a joyful and productive one.”

Floy Quintos, who gave the creative direction for the project, explains, “In a way, the process of completing this documentary was our own way of coming to terms with the barriers that the pandemic had imposed on all of us.”

Historians Ambeth Ocampo and Dr. Mila Guerrero annotated aspects of this significant journey of Rizal through Germany, giving context and meaning to the facts often regarded as mere trivia.  But the documentary also becomes a more personal one through the voice of Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, who tenderly recounts the memories passed on to him by his grandfather, Friedrich, who was only fourteen at the time of Rizal´s stay in their home.

“Hopefully,” Legarda adds, “this documentary will open our own eyes to the admiration that other countries, like Germany, have for our national hero.  There are markers everywhere that trace Rizal´s journey, streets, plazas named after him, markers that bear his name. As Filipinos, we should have that same appreciation for Rizal´s genius and contributions to world culture.”

“This story had to come home.  It is so resonant for all of us whose lives have been changed by the pandemic.  We draw inspiration from Rizal, a Filipino travelling through Europe in the late 19 th century who overcame many obstacles.  In this documentary, that first trip of Rizal through Europe shows that while these obstacles were not easy to overcome, he gained knowledge of his own humanity and his limitless possibilities.  He grew – as an intellectual, a scientist and doctor, as a human being in the company of other human beings who gave much value to his personhood and intellect much more.  Hopefully, through Rizal´s story, we find the means to overcome the barriers that we face today.”

Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers was conceptualized and envisioned by 3-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs – Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt.  The documentary will air on the ABS-CBN News Channel on June 19, 2021, Saturday at 7:00 pm (Manila time) with a simultaneous livestream on the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel and the Facebook pages of the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda.  It will have a replay on June 20, Sunday at 4:00 pm (Manila time)/10:00 am (Madrid time) on ANC.

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New docu on Rizal’s first trip to Europe marks National Hero’s 160th birthday

Little known aspects of Dr. Jose Rizal's first trip to Europe are revealed in the new documentary,  Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers . The project began when former senator Loren Legarda toured Heidelberg and the small German town of Wilhelmsfeld in 2019 together with Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer. Dr Ullmer is the great grandson of Pastor Karl Ullmer who hosted Rizal for three months in Wilhelmsfeld in 1886. The memories of that stay, as well as Rizal's correspondence and memorabilia, have since become part of the Ullmer family's legacy through three generations.

In the middle of production plans, the project came to a halt due to the pandemic. But with the perseverance of the Philippine Embassy in Berlin led by Ambassador Theresa de Vega and the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, headed by Consul General Evelyn Austria Garcia, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila and the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda, the documentary took shape and was finished in time for the celebration of our national hero's 160th birthday this month.

Amidst the challenging circumstances, Legarda says she was inspired and uplifted by Rizal’s life. "Rizal lived in a time of barriers created by skin color, religion, political ideologies, and colonialism. Yet he broke through these barriers to affirm his humanity and his genius. His trip to Germany was marked by the completion of the  Noli Me Tángere . It was also on that first trip that he wrote the immortal poem,  A Las Flores De Heidelberg .”

Rizal was studying ophthalmology and was also being introduced to the academic circles of Berlin as a culture bearer for scientists and humanists like Blumentritt and Virchow. “His time in Wilhelmsfeld, though short, was marked by the friendship and acceptance of the Ullmer family, who treated him as a friend,” notes Legarda. “It was a challenging time for Rizal, but it was also a joyful and productive one."

For Floy Quintos, the award-winning playwright who gave the creative direction for the project, “the process of completing this documentary was our own way of coming to terms with the barriers that the pandemic had imposed on all of us."

Historians Ambeth Ocampo and Dr. Mila Guerrero annotated aspects of this significant journey of Rizal through Germany, giving context and meaning to the facts often regarded as mere trivia. But the documentary also becomes a more personal one through the voice of Dr. Fritz Hack Ullmer, who tenderly recounts the memories passed on to him by his grandfather, Friedrich, who was only fourteen at the time of Rizal's stay in their home.

“Hopefully, this documentary will open our own eyes to the admiration that other countries, like Germany, have for our national hero,” adds Legarda. “There are markers everywhere that trace Rizal's journey, streets, plazas named after him, markers that bear his name. As Filipinos, we should have that same appreciation for Rizal's genius and contributions to world culture.”

Legarda believes this story needs to come home, to be told in Rizal’s motherland. “It is so resonant for all of us whose lives have been changed by the pandemic. We draw inspiration from Rizal, a Filipino travelling through Europe in the late 19th century who overcame many obstacles,” Legarda continues. “In this documentary, that first trip of Rizal through Europe shows that while these obstacles were not easy to overcome, he gained knowledge of his own humanity and his limitless possibilities. He grew—as an intellectual, a scientist and doctor, as a human being in the company of other human beings who gave much value to his personhood and intellect much more. Hopefully, through Rizal’s story, we find the means to overcome the barriers that we face today."

Finding Rizal in a Time of Barriers  was conceptualized and envisioned by the 3-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs-Philippine Embassy in Berlin and Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt. The documentary will air on the ABS-CBN News Channel on June 19, 2021, Saturday at 7:00pm (Manila time) with a simultaneous livestream on the ABS-CBN News YouTube channel and the Facebook Pages of the Department of Foreign Affairs, National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda. It will have a replay on June 20, Sunday at 4:00pm (Manila time) on ANC.

• Create a Timeline

Timeline of Rizals Travel

Philippines 1882.

May 3, 1882

Rizal boarded the salvadora with Antonio Rivera.

June 15, 1882 - September 2, 1882

-Rizal arrived and stayed at Barcelona for 3 months. - Rizal enrolled at the Universidad Central De Madrid.

Germany 1886-1887

April 22 1886 - March 21 1887

-Rizal wrote the poem “A Las Flores de Heidelberg”. - Copies of Noli Me Tangere went of the press.

Manila, Philippines 1887

August 5 1887 - August 30 1887

• Rizal came back to Manila.
• Possession and reading of Noli Me Tangere was prohibited.

Hong Kong 1888

February 8, 1888 - February 16, 1888

• Rizal arrived at Hong Kong
• Rizal wrote to Blumentritt that Hong Kong “is a small but very clean city.”

Feb 28, 1888 - March 4, 1888

• Rizal arrived in Japan.
• He wrote Blumentritt about the honesty, courtesy,cleanliness and industry of the Japanese people.

Biaritz, France 1891

March 21, 1891

• Rizal finished writing El Filibusterismo.

Paris, France 1891

October 3, 1891

• Rizal sent a letter with 600 copies of the El Filibusterismo, to Jose Ma. Basa in Hong Kong saying that he was definitely taking the next trip of the Melbourne for Hong Kong from Marseilles.

Philippines 1892-1896

June 26 1892

• Rizal arrived in the Philippines using the boat Don Juan.

Dec 30, 1896

• Rizal was executed.

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Jose Rizal's First Trip to Europe

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10 questions, describe rizal's activities and experiences during his first trip to europe and other parts of the world., what historical event did rizal witness while passing through the suez canal, how did rizal feel about other religions during his travel, what did rizal observe and reflect on regarding colonial suffering in other parts of the world, what were some of the interesting encounters and experiences rizal had during his trip, what specific details did rizal observe during his exploration in singapore, describe rizal's encounters and observations during his time in sri lanka/ceylon., what did rizal remark on and acquire during his time in africa/gulf of aden/cape guardafui, what historical events did rizal witness while passing through the suez canal, how did rizal perceive colonial suffering in other parts of the world during his travels, description.

Test your knowledge of Jose Rizal's first trip to Europe with this quiz. Explore his departure from the Philippines, his experiences on the ship, and his time in Singapore. See how much you know about his interactions with Spanish passengers, his activities, and the critiques of colonial administration.

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Hamas says it does not have 40 hostages who fit criteria for deal with Israel

US-backed proposal involves women, children and elderly or sick hostages in Gaza being exchanged for 900 Palestinian prisoners

• Middle East crisis – live updates

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has indicated it does not have 40 captives who are still alive who meet the “humanitarian” criteria for a proposed hostages-for-prisoners ceasefire agreement with Israel .

A senior Israeli official confirmed claims made at the weekend by Hamas during talks in Cairo that it does not have 40 hostages in Gaza who meet the exchange criteria.

Ceasefire talks have focused on a US-backed proposal of a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners. In the first instance women, children, and elderly or sick people – including five female Israeli soldiers – would be exchanged for an estimated 900 Palestinian prisoners being held by Israel, alongside a six-week ceasefire in Gaza .

Hamas appears reluctant to make up the numbers for an exchange with surviving male hostages. Reliable information about how many hostages remain alive, who is holding them and where has been hard to come by.

The CIA director, William Burns, has presented a new proposal to try to bridge the gaps between the two sides.

The US is pressuring Israel to agree to release 900 Palestinian prisoners in the first phase of a three-stage deal as well as allowing the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza.

The talks, which resumed on Sunday, have brought no signs of a breakthrough on a plan presented by US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators, which Hamas said it was studying.

About 240 hostages, including the bodies of some killed during Hamas’s 7 October attack on southern Israel, were taken into Gaza during the assault.

So far 112 hostages have been returned alive to Israel. Of those, 105 were released as part of an exchange last year. Before that, Hamas released four prisoners unilaterally, while three more were rescued by the Israel Defense Forces.

In the months since 7 October, Israel has revealed that a number of those who were believed to have been alive when they were abducted were in fact killed during the initial Hamas attack.

Hamas has said some hostages have died during Israeli strikes on Gaza. In a high-profile friendly fire incident Israel killed three escaped male hostages as they approached Israeli troops.

Israel believes about 30 of the remaining hostages are dead, which would leave about 100 still alive, including 91 Israelis or dual nationals, eight Thai citizens, one Nepali, and one French-Mexican national.

The long-running manoeuvres on both sides around ceasefire negotiations – an increasingly politically contentious issue in Israel – have become more tortuous by the week despite pressure from mediators.

While there was speculation that Israel’s withdrawal of its forces from operations in southern Gaza may have been an undeclared confidence-building measure, the killing of three of the sons of Hamas’s political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, along with several of his grandchildren, appeared to undercut that analysis.

In an interview with the Al Jazeera satellite channel, Haniyeh said the killings would not pressure Hamas into softening its positions.

Haniyeh left Gaza in 2019 and lives in exile in Qatar. The top Hamas leader in Gaza is Yahya Sinwar, who masterminded the 7 October attack on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Among the various stumbling blocks on the Israeli side are demands that displaced Palestinians be allowed to return to northern Gaza, as well as the identity of prisoners to be released from Israeli jails.

Hamas has been pushing for a far more significant cessation in hostilities, including a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, even as Israeli officials have vowed to continue with the war.

Guardian Newsroom: Crisis in the Middle East On Tuesday 30 April, 7-8.15pm GMT, join Devika Bhat, Peter Beaumont, Emma Graham-Harrison and Ghaith Abdul-Ahad as they discuss the fast-developing crisis in the Middle East. Book tickets here or at theguardian.live

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Swiss women score a landmark climate win in a court decision that could ripple across Europe

Europe’s highest human rights court ruled Tuesday that its member nations have an obligation to protect their citizens from the ill effects of climate change, but still threw out a high-profile case brought by  six Portuguese youngsters  aimed at forcing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The European Court of Human Rights sided with more than 2,000 Swiss members of Senior Women for Climate Protection, who also sought such measures in a mixed session of judgements in which a French mayor similarly seeking stronger government efforts to combat climate change was also defeated.

Lawyers for all three had hoped the Strasbourg court would find that national governments have a legal duty to make sure global warming is held to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, in line with the goals of the Paris climate agreement.

“I really hoped that we would win against all the countries, so obviously I’m disappointed that this didn’t happen,” said 19-year-od Sofia Oliveira, one of the Portuguese plaintiffs. “But the most important thing is that the Court has said in the Swiss women’s case that governments must cut their emissions more to protect human rights. So, their win is a win for us, too, and a win for everyone!”

In a reference to its fundamental Convention of Human Rights, “the court found that Art. 8 of the Convention encompasses a right for individuals to effective protection by the state authorities from the serious adverse effects of climate change on their lives, health, well-being and quality of life.”

Judgments from the European Court of Human Rights set a legal precedent against which future lawsuits would be judged in the Council of Europe’s 46 member states.

Although activists have had successes with lawsuits in domestic proceedings, this was the first time an international court ruled on climate change.

“This is a turning point,” said Corina Heri, an expert in climate change litigation at the University of Zurich. She said Tuesday’s decision confirms for the first time that countries have an obligation to protect people from the effects of climate change and will open the door to more legal challenges.

Ahead of the ruling, a large crowd gathered in front of the court building to cheer and wave flags, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was coming off of multiple arrests during a demonstration in The Hague over the weekend.

The decisions have “the potential to be a watershed moment in the global fight for a livable future. A victory for any of the three cases would be one of the most significant developments on climate change since the signing of the Paris Agreement” said Gerry Liston, a lawyer with the Global Legal Action Network, which is supporting the Portuguese students.

The European Union, which doesn’t include Switzerland, currently has a target to be climate-neutral by 2050. Many governments have said that meeting a 2030 goal would be economically unattainable.

The groups were confident that the 17 judges would rule in their favor, but the mixed decision could undermine a previous ruling in the Netherlands. In 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court ordered the government to cut emissions by at least 25% by the end of 2020 from benchmark 1990 levels.

The Urgenda decision, referring to the climate group that brought the case, relied on the European Convention of Human Rights. It could be overturned if Tuesday’s decision concludes there is no legal obligation for countries to combat climate change.

“A court ruling is binding on all countries,” said Dennis van Berkel, who represented Urgenda in the Netherlands.

Together with five more young people, 16-year-old André dos Santos Oliveira took Portugal and 32 other nations to court, arguing the failure to stop emissions violated their fundamental rights. Their case was thrown out.

“The extreme heat waves, the rainfalls, followed by heat waves, it is just choking us with greenhouse effects. And what worries me is the frequency in which they started happening more and more. That’s what really scared me. And, I thought to myself, well, what can I do?” she said.

But judges ruled in favor of a group of Swiss retirees also demanding their government do more. Senior Women for Climate Protection, whose average age is 74, say older women’s rights are especially infringed on because they are most affected by the extreme heat that will become more frequent due to global warming.

Earth shattered global annual heat records in 2023, flirted with the world’s agreed-upon warming threshold, and showed more signs of a feverish planet, Copernicus, a European climate agency, said in January.

In all three cases, lawyers argued that the political and civil protections guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights are meaningless if the planet is uninhabitable.

Switzerland is not alone in being affected by global warming, said Alain Chablais, representative of the country at last year’s hearings. “This problem cannot be solved by Switzerland alone.”

Acknowledging the urgency of the climate crisis, the court fast-tracked all three cases, including a rare move allowing the Portuguese case to bypass domestic legal proceedings.

The Associated Press

I booked shared and private sleeper cabins on overnight trains in Europe. Only one was worth the price.

• I traveled by overnight train during two European backpacking trips.
• For my first trip, I booked a bunk in a sleeper cabin shared with three strangers for $84.
• For my second trip, I booked a private cabin with three bunks, a sink, and a vanity for $200.

I explored by day and traveled by night during my two backpacking trips through Europe .

In 2022 and 2023, I traversed the continent on sleeper trains operated by OBB Nightjet , an Austrian rail line that operates in more than 25 European cities.

Nightjet has three tiers of sleeping accommodations , from reclining seats to bunks in shared and private cabins.

During my first European train trip, I booked an $84 ride from Vienna to Venice in a shared cabin with six bunks. A year later, I booked a private cabin from Venice to Vienna with the same train line for $200.

Both trips were roughly 12 hours long, but the accommodations provided completely different experiences in terms of comfort and amenities. And there's only one I'd take again.

During my first European train trip in 2022, I slept in a cabin shared with strangers.

A step above a seating carriage , the 74-square-foot shared cabin had six bunks, a pullout table, and not much else. At $84 for one bunk, this is the cheapest Nighjet accommodation with a lie-flat bed.

The second time, I booked a private cabin.

For my second train trip through Europe in November 2023, I traveled from Venice to Vienna in a private cabin for $200 — Nightjet's highest tier of accommodation .

The 30-square-foot space had three bunks inside — one on the bottom and two up top. Across from the bottom bunk was a vanity and wash basin — a perk only included in private cabins.

On the bottom bunk, there was also a goodie bag of complimentary amenities such as a sleep mask, earplugs, and slippers.

The shared cabin felt cramped and lacked privacy for each traveler.

There were only three other travelers in the shared cabin for six during my leg of the trip. Aside from brief hellos, we all kept to ourselves, and the room was quiet.

But I never forgot I was in the presence of others. The space felt so cramped I couldn't imagine squeezing six people and their luggage inside. There was hardly any room to stand up, and I didn't have enough privacy to relax without curtains or dividers between bunks.

"Offering our passengers a high level of travel comfort is an important concern for us," a representative for OBB Nightjet told Business Insider in a statement. "We are constantly working on improvements to our product and also take into account the requirements of our customers."

But the private cabin felt more spacious.

Although smaller than the shared cabin, the private cabin packed less inside, leaving more floor space to move around in. With luggage storage next to one of the top bunks, the room didn't feel crowded.

But the best part was having complete privacy with a door that could lock and no one to share the space with.

During the first ride, I washed up in one of the sleeping car's shared bathrooms.

There was no toilet, sink, or vanity inside the cabin. So before bed, I changed and brushed my teeth in one of the two bathrooms shared with every passenger in the sleeping car.

After standing in a short line of travelers, I rushed through my nighttime routine in the small restroom to keep others from waiting too long.

In the private accommodation, I brushed my teeth from the comfort of my cabin.

The private cabin didn't have a toilet inside either, but the vanity and sink made washing up before bed more relaxing since I didn't have to rush through my routine.

As I brushed my teeth and washed my face, I noticed that, unlike the shared bathroom, my vanity had bright, white lights and toilet storage shelves on the inner doors.

In the shared cabin, my bunk wasn't comfortable.

The bunk was situated like a couch when I arrived in the cabin. And before bed, an attendant came by to pull it out.

The futon felt like a carpet and was stiffer than a seat in a car. While I appreciated being able to lie flat and the sheets and pillow provided, I had difficulty falling and staying asleep in a relaxing position. And I woke up each time another passenger in my room got up to use the bathroom.

But the private cabin's cot was cozy.

In the private cabin, I was surprised that the bunk was more comfortable than those in the shared accommodation.

The cot was as cushy as it was firm, making it easy on my back. And in addition to sheets and a pillow, there was a thick comforter that made me feel more cozy. It reminded me of my bed at home. I had an easy time dozing off and slept for six hours straight.

Both rides included a complimentary breakfast.

I received the same complimentary breakfast in both cabins — two bread rolls with butter, Nutella, and fruit preserves on the side, yogurt, and a cup of coffee or caffeinated tea.

In the future, I'll only book private cabins on Nightjet trains.

After a night in the shared cabin, I was exhausted. I didn't enjoy my first day in Venice as much as I hoped. As beautiful as it was, I couldn't help thinking about how nice it would be to nap.

But following my ride in the private cabin, I felt refreshed and well-rested, making my day in Vienna more fulfilling as I explored streets lined with vibrantly colored buildings and murals.

These contrasting experiences made me realize that booking a shared cabin on an overnight train wasn't worth the money I saved.

However, the comforts of the private cabin made me feel like I was in a hotel room . And $200 for one night in my own space while traveling from one destination to the next felt like a fair price to me.

Europe is so vast that I'm certain I'll backpack through the continent again. And when I do, I know I'll book private rooms on overnight trains.

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Cameron, on U.S. Trip, Takes a Risk and Meets With Trump

David Cameron, the British foreign secretary, said he spoke with Donald Trump, the former, and possibly future, president, about Ukraine and the Israel-Gaza conflict.

By Mark Landler

Reporting from London

When Britain’s foreign secretary, David Cameron, went to Washington on Tuesday, he made all the usual stops, from the State Department to Capitol Hill. But it was his pilgrimage to Palm Beach, Fla., where he met former President Donald J. Trump for dinner on Monday evening at Mar-a-Lago, that grabbed most of the attention.

Mr. Cameron is the first top British government official to meet with Mr. Trump since he left the White House. His visit — ostensibly to cajole Mr. Trump into backing additional American military aid to Ukraine — attests to Mr. Trump’s influence over a far-right faction of House Republicans who have been holding up a vote.

It also underscores how the electoral calendar is affecting political dynamics on both sides of the Atlantic. Mr. Cameron, a onetime prime minister, has emerged as almost a shadow British leader abroad, standing in for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is busy with a looming general election at home.

In traveling to meet Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Mr. Cameron was reaching out to a once, and potentially future, American president — one whose jaundiced views on Ukraine are seen as the biggest hurdle to the continuation of much-needed American aid for the Ukrainian military.

“We had a good meeting,” Mr. Cameron said of Mr. Trump, while standing alongside Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken after their own session at the State Department on Tuesday. “It was a private meeting.”

Mr. Cameron said he and Mr. Trump discussed Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict and other geopolitical issues, but he declined to say whether he had made any headway on convincing Mr. Trump to provide additional aid to Ukraine. He said he delivered the same message he gives to other American leaders: “The best thing we can do this year is to keep the Ukrainians in this fight.”

Mr. Trump has not commented on the dinner, which included Britain’s ambassador to Washington, Karen Pierce. His campaign issued a statement saying they discussed “the need for NATO countries to meet their defense spending requirements and ending the killing in Ukraine.” They also shared their “mutual admiration for the late Queen Elizabeth II.”

So far, Mr. Cameron’s lobbying campaign in Washington has been met with decidedly mixed results. While he said he looked forward to meetings with Republicans in the House and Senate on Tuesday and Wednesday, he was not scheduled to meet with Speaker Mike Johnson, the Louisiana Republican who is the pivotal figure in scheduling a House vote on military aid to Ukraine.

The two men last met in December, when Mr. Cameron also saw Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the far-right Georgia Republican who stridently opposes further aid. Two months later, she lashed out at Mr. Cameron, saying he had accused Republicans of appeasing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

“David Cameron needs to worry about his own country,” Ms. Taylor Greene said, adding an epithet.

At his news conference with Mr. Blinken, Mr. Cameron acknowledged that he viewed his visits to Capitol Hill with “great trepidation,” noting that, “It’s not for foreign politicians to tell legislators in another country what to do.”

Mr. Cameron played down the Mar-a-Lago meeting, saying it was routine for senior British and American officials to meet opposition candidates. As prime minister, he noted, he met with the Republican presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, when he came to London on a fund-raising trip. Mr. Blinken met the Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, at a security conference in Munich.

Still, there is little routine about meeting a former president at the Palm Beach estate that served as his winter White House and is still his political bastion. Mr. Trump used Mar-a-Lago for summit meetings with foreign leaders like President Xi Jinping of China . More recently, he welcomed a like-minded leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary .

Among Republicans, a pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago has at times been an exercise in political validation. Kevin McCarthy, the former House speaker, went there three weeks after the attack on the Capitol in January 2021, in a fruitless bid to win Mr. Trump’s favor. Allies like Kristi Noem, the South Dakota governor, and Kari Lake, the Arizona TV anchor-turned-politician, are regular visitors.

Diplomats in Britain said Mr. Cameron’s visit was a risk, but characteristic of how he has approached his job from the start. On issues from Ukraine to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, he has pushed the envelope in his public statements. With Britain’s Conservative government lagging Labour by double digits in the polls and facing voters in the fall, some said Mr. Cameron had little to lose.

“Flattering Trump about his importance and significance on this issue is an astute move on Cameron’s part,” said Simon Fraser, a former head of Britain’s Foreign Office. “Let’s see whether it delivers.”

Mr. Fraser predicted that Mr. Cameron’s visit would get a mixed reception in Britain: applauded by those who view it primarily through a foreign-policy lens; criticized by those, he said, “who can’t stand Trump.” But he said Mr. Cameron’s entree to Mr. Trump spoke to his network of global contacts, a legacy of his time as prime minister.

“He’s bringing more reach and energy and impact to British foreign policy,” Mr. Fraser said.

Leslie Vinjamuri, the director of the U.S. and Americas program at Chatham House, the British research institution, said, “It may not feel tasteful, but it’s shrewd, pragmatic politics of the kind Britain especially has historically been so good at, and probably of the kind that will work best with Trump.”

“There is a lot at stake in U.S. defense of Ukraine and Europe’s security,” she added, “and frankly, I think the effort to influence the U.S. may be wiser and more effective than the aspiration to Trump-proof Europe.”

Mr. Cameron has had a bumpy history with Mr. Trump. In 2016, as prime minister, he condemned Mr. Trump’s campaign proposal to place a temporary ban on allowing Muslims to enter the United States.

Asked in Parliament whether Mr. Trump should be banned from Britain, Mr. Cameron demurred but said, “His remarks are divisive, stupid and wrong, and I think if he came to visit our country, I think he’d unite us all against him.”

Even Mr. Cameron’s welcoming of Mr. Romney in 2012 had its awkward moments. Mr. Romney, who had organized the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, questioned whether London was ready to play host to the summer games, citing reports about security concerns.

“We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world,” Mr. Cameron shot back. “Of course, it’s easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere.”

Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.

An earlier version of this article misstated the year of the Winter Olympic Games that Mitt Romney had organized in Salt Lake City. It was the 2002 Games, not 1988.

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Mark Landler is the London bureau chief of The Times, covering the United Kingdom, as well as American foreign policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has been a journalist for more than three decades. More about Mark Landler