I was thrilled to be invited to participate in the Maiden Voyage of Viking Sea, sister ship to Viking Star, Viking Cruises ocean-going liners that have set a new standard in affordable luxury since their inception last year.   I was even more delighted when…

Viking River Cruises Take to the Oceans   It’s hard to tell which is larger: the ship, the amount of dining options, or the value. Last May, I took Viking Tor from Budapest to Nurnberg For the past five years, Viking River Cruises has consistently…

David, 500 year old hunk          Initially, I’d signed up for a tour that took its participants into the countryside where we’d tour a winery and make ‘afternoon snacks’ called ‘marende’.  Now I lived in Italy and have gone there several times afterwards and I…

First glimpse of The World’s Best New Cruise Ship of 2015          Day 4 dawned rainy and the roof top breakfast room at the Hotel Cram was filled with unhappy tourists.   I could not have cared less.  Because from the rooftop, I could see the…

HOME/TRAVEL On the Danube River with Viking River Cruises On this cruise, your next meal is right around the bend in the river 5 July 24, 2015 | 05:26 PM  By Monte Mathews, Special Contributor    Monte Mathews This cruise is one of the best ways to…

HOME/TRAVEL/CULINARY VACATIONS The Restaurant in Regensburg, Germany, You Must Travel For Don’t miss the bratwurst in this city by the Danube River 0 July 24, 2015 | 05:09 PM  By Monte Mathews, Special Contributor          Monte Matthews This wurst is the best. There are…

Above: Viking River Cruises Longship Tor docked in Passau Germany I admit it.  I cannot say enough good things about my recent “Romantic Danube” cruise aboard Viking River Cruises’ Longship “Tor”. I consider myself to be well-travelled. I’ve had the good fortune to visit 6 continents, many…

It may look Medieval but 90{4e4771bbe073b579fdd8e596ee487f65145483febbc8ba0a80525f62b26cad86} of Nuremberg was bombed out of existence in World War II.This copy was built to replace it.           As much as you know this day is coming, there’s a certain melancholy that sets in when you realize this wonderful…

Schoenbrunn, the Hapsburg’s Summer PlaceAnd I thought houses in the Hamptons were getting too big.             The first of 29 locks the Tor willpass through en route to Nuremberg As night fell, Viking River Tor passed through the first of a series of locks…

The Royal Palace on the Buda side of Budapest Despite having not slept since Wednesday, the city of Budapest beckoned and won over the comforts of the Tor, one of 29 Viking River longships that ply the Danube in both directions.  I finally arrived in…

Air France Flight 7 380 Airbus New York to Paris At least, there was wine. I think of myself as one of those travelers whose attention to detail leads to flawlessly executed travel plans.  But yesterday,  I forgot one very important detail.  I spent most…

The Daily Meal, that great food resource whose banner heads up every page of Chewing the Fat, is sending me on a great adventure.   I’m off today for Budapest, flying through Paris on Air France to arrive there in the early morning Friday. There, I will board…

Central Market, Budapest Paprika for Tourists Early to rise and to pack in as much Budapest as time would allow.  First stop, the Central Market, just as it opened at 6:00 am.  Time changes do wonders for sightseeing.  Since I am writing a piece on…