A trip of 26 km to survey the Old Continent
PhD student in computer science in Michigan, Randal S. Olson (Randy for friends) was known for his calculation of the perfect road trip in the United States. The blogger has, this time, composed several lines of codes to minimize travel between the main sites to see and visit in Europe. Generous, the American student leaves free access to the Python code of his algorithm (Creative Commons license). In the meantime, here is the ideal route to discover Europe, established according to this algorithm.
50 locations, 29 countries, 14 days
Better to leave with two because fourteen days of driving without interruption are necessary to cover the 26 kilometers. This is why it takes three months to complete this road trip to enjoy fifty unmissable experiences on the Old Continent. The small islands were knowingly excluded from the program, but Randy Olson recalls that some passages require the use of a ferry. He therefore advises to prepare your trip as little as possible and to think about a few reservations.
The trip in detail
Tempted by the experience? From France (even if it is not the most “logical”), the algorithm takes you to the United Kingdom, to visit London and Stonehenge. Then you will then have to turn around to reach Scandinavia (Norway, Finland, Sweden), as far as Lapland before reaching the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania).
You will then go to Central Europe: Krakow in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Vienna in Austria) then further east to enjoy the charms of Budapest (Hungary) and Sighi? Oara (Romania).
You will then have to go to Turkey, at the gates of Asia. You will go up along the Black Sea (Bulgaria) and the Mediterranean, with a detour through Santorini and Malta. Then, place to Italy (Amalfi, Rome, Florence and Venice), before surveying Slovenia, Austria, Germany and Switzerland. There remains a passage in Monaco and the Lubéron mountains, in Vaucluse, before Barcelona, Andalusia and Lagos, in Portugal. Finally, it will be the return to Paris ... Nice trip, no?
Click here to discover Randal Olson's ideal road trip in detail.
