Discover Hungary's beauty and hospitality through the eyes of B&amp;R CEO Mike Scarola, who spent much of his athletic career training, racing and rejuvenating around the Danube and Lake Balaton.

Growing up on the east coast of Canada near Lake Banook in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, sprint-racing canoeing has always been part of my life. My passion for the sport would allow me to travel the world and eventually led me to represent Canada at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.While racing demanded speed, I found slowing down and taking in the surroundings to be magical. Much like biking a route with friends, canoeing with a group of friends is a wonderful way to appreciate the beauty of a region from a new perspective.&nbsp;While every European country has its unique charm, Hungary holds a special place in my heart as it played a significant role in my canoeing career. My long-time coach is Hungarian, and his passion for the sport and his homeland were unmistakable. Hungary has a rich history in canoeing and has produced more Olympic medals in the sport than any other country.

As an athlete, I spent many summers training and racing in Hungary. I trained with many of the best paddlers in Hungary, and some of the best paddlers in the world.&nbsp;While canoeing up and down the Danube river we would meet many locals who were happy to share a drink and a smile. Despite the language barrier, their warmth and welcoming nature shone through.&nbsp;Lake Balaton, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. Following a competition in Szeged, Hungary, I spent time in the region with my teammates and newfound local friends. I was immediately drawn to the culture and warm hospitality. The locals were incredibly generous in opening up their culture and friendship to us, something I'm excited to share with our travellers on <a href="https://butterfield.com/trip/scheduled/vienna-to-budapest-wine-country-biking" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">B&amp;R's Vienna to Budapest Wine Country Biking</a> trip.

I'm excited to return to a country where I've spent a significant amount of time as an athlete and to now experience it in an entirely new way. I’ll be co-guiding our first Vienna to Budapest Wine Country Biking departure of the season, going deep into the history and culture along bike routes chosen for their authentic beauty, and connecting with some really interesting local people that entertain and inspire. Hungary is a country that has been through a lot in the past 80 years, and its people are very proud of their culture and eager to share it with open arms and warm spirits.&nbsp;Join me in Vienna and Budapest on our September 16 - 22 departure, an incredible journey that pulls out the best of Central Europe through the region’s top hotels, hyper-local wine experiences and unbelievable meals and biking routes.

Blog posts by Mike Scarola