Austria/Germany/Prague PROBLEM

Yes, you can take a train from Granada to Barcelona. There are four daytime connections you can make, all of which backtrack you to Madrid (some to Sevilla first), then onto Barcelona by high-speed AVE..they take between 9 and 10 hours. There are two overnight trains, one which takes you back to Cordoba (14 hours), the other which goes direct in 12 hours. Both are likely to be expensive if you wish sleeping accommodations. To save time and $$$ you may want to consider a discount airline flight. Both Vueling and Clickair currrently fly that route, although with those two airlines merging, there will likely be changes by next summer. Fares now are as low as 35 Euro, all in.

If you are definitely starting in Vienna and ending in Frankfurt, I think I would do Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt. I think Prague is too close to Dresden not to do that as one leg.

From Venice I would go Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, Dresden, Berlin, Hamburg and Frankfurt. That makes it like a giant circle rather than a lot of zig-zagging.

You are covering a lot of ground, even for two-months. Have a great time.

Yeah, I realize that we are covering a lot of ground. I've considered cutting Austria for more time in Prague.

Personally, I would cut Vienna and go to Salzburg. I found Salburg easy to get around and I was 65 then. The old part is small and much to see there.

I would then go to Prague via Vienna. I believe that would be the route.

Enjoy your trip with your Mother. My daughter and I went for 8 weeks...and oh the memories.