Hey everyone!
I'm in the process of planning a trip to Europe in May next year. My wife and I are looking at spending 3 1/2 - 4 weeks in Europe. ATM, we are settled on flying into Rome (4 days), heading to Florence (3 days) & then Venice (3). Before I continue, we are taking the train everywhere. From Venice, we will take the overnight train through Switzerland (maybe 1/2 day in Bern) onto Lyon (3).
This is where I have a problem. Since I am a chef, rather than aiming for most of the sights, I am heading for places with food/wine/restaurant related things. My wife doesn't mind as she wants to see some sights, eat at some top class restaurants but I think her main thing is Euro Disney. LOL! So these are the options
a) Head down to Nice (2 days). Head up to Aurillac for Michel Bras (3 Michelin Stars) & the Roquefort caves (2 days). Catch a train to Toulouse (2 days), Bordeaux (2 days) and then onto Paris (5 days). (26 days total)
b) Do all the above up to Toulouse then head south to either Barcelona or preferably, with any luck, Roses for an elBulli experience (2). After that, Bordeaux (2) Tours (2) then Paris (5 days). (24 Days)
c) Also do up to Toulouse. Head across to Bordeaux (2 days), up to St Malo (2) for Olivier Roellinger, then to Paris (6 days) (the extra day for Reims) (23 Days)
What I am looking for is which will be easiest to do via train and is worth the effort. In options b & c is there anywhere I can spend longer in or places I can add?