Happy Valentine's Day

The Creation of Valentine's Day

How did Valentine’s Day become one of the most romantic days around the world? Many participants are unaware of how February 14^th came to be the “day of love”. Its origins date back to the ancient Roman Empire when February 15^th began the festival called “Feast of Lupercalia” which honored the Roman God of Agriculture. A custom followed the Feast to bring young boys and girls together. On the eve of the festival, February 14^th, a piece of paper with a girl’s name on it was put into a jar and the young men would pick one. The girl they picked would be paired with him for the duration of Lupercalia, usually a year. Most would end up falling in love and later marry. This tradition set the mood for the Valentine’s Day we know today, but this isn’t what made the day remembered around the world.

Emperor Claudius II of Rome found it hard to get soldiers to fight for him and felt it was because the men did not want to leave their wives and families behind while they fought a long bloody war. Therefore, Claudius cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome. A romantic priest, known as Saint Valentine, defied the Emperor and secretly married the Roman lovers. When his tactics were discovered he was imprisoned and put to death on February 14^th. While in jail he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and in his farewell letter to her he signed it “From your Valentine”. Over the period of time, the martyr, Saint Valentine, became the patron saint of lovers and they began to celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of romance by exchanging love notes and simple gifts such as flower.

France and England have another belief associated with Valentine’s Day. The people during the Middle Ages believed birds began to mate halfway through the second month of the year, February 14^th. Furthermore, it is said that the Valentine’s Day cards gained their popularity in France, when Charles, Duke of Orleans, who was captured at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 wrote a poem or ‘Valentine' to his wife while imprisoned in the Tower of London. More Valentine’s Day poems were written and the tradition has carried on through the years to present day.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated much the same way around the world. However, each country makes the day unique by calling it something different or has added a special tradition over the years. In the UK and France sending cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts is the traditional way of acknowledging Valentine’s Day, referred to as “Saint Valentin” in France. In Spain, Valentine's Day is known as "San Valentín" and is celebrated the same way as in France, although in Catalonia it is largely superseded by similar festivities of rose and/or book giving on La Diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day). In Portugal it is more commonly referred to as "Dia dos Namorados" (Lover's Day / Day of those that are in love with each other).

Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated by lovers, however over the years the day has shifted to less of a romantic day to a more admiration day. The festival is celebrated to express love to anyone we are close to. Therefore, many celebrate Valentine's Day with friends, siblings, parents, grandparents, teachers or anyone who made a difference to our lives with their affection and support. Take this opportunity to express your love and gratitude to all persons you love. Happy Saint Valentine’s Day!!

Italy's New Additions

Visitors will find Italy a more structured country with many changes taking effect in 2011. Many of these apply to frequently visited regions and sites benefiting tourists.

Rome:

• For example, in Rome the Vatican Museum’s new online reservation system is up and running. The museum has also extended its hours on Fridays in April through October from 7-11 pm for reservations only. Expect to see the museum’s Etruscan Rooms, which are now open after a long renovation.

• Also in Rome, the famous Coliseum is being cleaned from top to bottom. Lights will also be installed which will open up previously closed off sections to visitors.

• Tiburtina, Rome’s second largest train station, is undergoing renovations to house more high speed trains. Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), a new company, will run one of their high speed trains through the station along with Eurostar Italia bullet train which currently stops at this station.

Pisa:

• A big tourist attraction, the Leaning Tower has extended their summer hours making it possible to tour the landmark and survey the Field of Miracles like never before. Their reservations system and organizational methods while visiting the tower have been running smoothly.

Venice:

• Dogana traghetto, ferry gondola, is back and shuttling visitors across the mouth of the Grand Canal. Don’t miss this exciting ride!

• The new People Mover monorail is another new device making visitor transportation easier. The automated People Mover departs every few minutes carrying passengers from the parking lot at Tronchetto to Piazzale Roma in three minutes.

• The Punta della Dogana, a new art museum, recently opened in the former Customs House. The displays change every year featuring more cutting edge 21^st-century pieces by newer artists.

Europe’s rich culture is booming everywhere you go in Italy. Immerse yourself in this enchanting country’s abounding history and incomparable sites.

New Changes in Spain for 2011

Spain is continuing to undergo exciting changes to many destinations throughout the country. The government has banned smoking in all closed public spaces; this applies to mostly restaurants and bars, hotel rooms are not included in these restrictions. This isn’t all that has changed in Spain, however.

Barcelona:

• Antoni Gaudí's famous and unfinished cathedral is currently undergoing changes.
• The nave of the Sagrada Familia, which the first floor was completed just before Pope Benedict XVI’s visit in November, was consecrated by the pope and open for daily Mass.

Madrid:

• The city continues building new Metro stations, making streets more pedestrian friendly, and making other infrastructure improvements. Its central square, Puerta del Sol, is now largely car- and bus-free.
• The Valley of the Fallen memorial, which commemorates the victims of Spain's civil war (1936 to 1939), will reopen sometime in 2011.

Granada's Alhambra:

• The Hall of Kings in the Palacios Nazaries is being refurbished and will remain closed until it is finished. The 12 lion statues in the Alhambra's Courtyard of the Lions will return in 2011 after a long restoration.

Don’t let these reconstruction projects hinder your visit to this magical country. Spain has so much to offer, and once these renovations are complete, it will have even more spectacular places to see.

3 Great Itineraries for 2011

3 Tours No One Wants to Miss

European touring is continuing its rise in popularity. Have you joined the band-wagon yet? We can help you. Pure Adventures offers self guided biking and multisport tours throughout Europe including Ireland, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland, UK, Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and Hungary. Self-guided is a rising way of travel. It gives travelers flexibility in tour itineraries and departure dates, it is affordable, and you get to choose your travel partners. We give you the routes, take care of baggage transfers, hotel reservations and some meals; you just have to relax and enjoy your trip.

Every tour in every destination has been built and is supported by LOCALS. Here are 3 itineraries that have proven to be among our most popular:

Tuscany Italy Bike Tour

A vacation to enjoy all that is good: food, sun, lifestyle, wine, amusement, and relaxation. The culture of the region adds charm, and you can indulge yourself in this opulent way because you will cycle the famous undulating countryside. This 7 day/6 night Tuscany cycling tour starts in Montepulciano and goes to Pienza, along the way you will visit the villages that have made Tuscany famous. You can enjoy very charming 3/4 star accommodations and devour your choice of divine Mediterranean cuisine. Friendly heads up, the hilly terrain makes this tour somewhat challenging!

Gastronomic Catalonia Spain Bike Tour

This 8 day/7 night bicycle tour of Spain, near to Girona, covers the Empordà interior and coast. It begins and ends at the foot of the Gavarres Mountains, a very nice area with its rolling relief and its picturesque medieval settlements. The route combines a rocky coastline, a soft countryside and a rural atmosphere. You reach the coast in the lovely village of Calella de Palafrugell, an antique fisherman's village that still conserves its original charm with houses by the beach. This tour is outstanding for the quality, the charm and the high gastronomy of the selected lodgings which are all very charming in their typical stone/tile style decor.

Connemara Ireland Bike Tour

The unspoiled beauty of land as well as the warmth and humor of the people are what make Connemara, the jewel of western Ireland the true emerald of the isle. During this bike tour you will discover such attractions as Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle, and charming towns of Galway and Clifden. The riding is rural and couldn't be more peaceful. Meet some locals, have a pint, and enjoy a special affinity that only the Irish can provide! This tour can be 5 day/4 night or extended to 8 day/7 night.

Bike Parts 101

It’s Not Just Wheels, Pedals, Handlebars and a Seat

If you ask the weekend bike rider to name the different parts of a bike you may get a response like tires, chain, handlebars, seat, pedals, brakes, etc. If you ask an avid cyclist the same question they may start spitting out words like derailleur, fork, rims, crankset, etc. Don’t be discouraged if your face is making a confused look while reading those terms. Mine used to do the same thing until…

Welcome to BIKE PARTS 101:

Many parts go into making your bike operate smoothly, so you can enjoy the ride.

Picture from http://www.jimlangley.net/wrench/bicycle_parts_labeled.jpg

Frame = This is the main component of a bicycle, the wheels and other components are attached to the frame. It consists of:

• Seat tube = the roughly vertical tube in a bicycle frame running from the seat to the bottom bracket
• Down tube = tube on a bicycle frame that runs from the head tube to the bottom bracket
• Top tube = frame member leading from steerer tube to seat tube
• Head tube = the tube of a bicycle frame that contains the headset
• Fork = a mechanical assembly that integrates a bicycle’s frame to its front wheel and handlebars, allowing steering by virtue of its steerer tube.
• Seat stay = small tubes running from top of seat tube to rear dropouts.
• Chain stay = pair of tubes that runs from the bottom bracket to the rear fork ends

Wheel:

• Front/Rear Hub = center part of a bicycle wheel. It consists of an axle, bearings and a hub shell.
• Spokes = rods connecting the center of a wheel to the rim
• Rim = a large hoop attached to the outer ends of the spokes of the wheel that holds the tire and tube
• Valve Stem = port for adding or releasing air from the inner tube.

Chain = It consists of interlinking pins, plates and rollers that transmits power from the pedals to the rear wheel, thus propelling it

Chain ring = It allows the chain to transfer power to the wheel. They usually have teeth spaced to engage every link of the chain as it passes over.

Crankset = It consists of one or more chain rings attached to the crankarm that allows the rider’s leg motion to move the chain therefore making the back wheel spin and the bike to move

Front/Rear Derailleur = These consist of a chain, multiple chain rings (sprockets/gears) of different sizes, and a device to move the chain from one ring to another. When a rider changes gears using their levers while pedaling, the change in cable tension moves the chain-guide from side to side, “derailing” the chain onto different rings, known commonly as changing gears.

Brake = It is used to slow down or stop a bicycle. Most bike brake systems contain of three main components: an instrument for the rider to apply the brakes, like the brake levers; another device for transmitting that signal, such as brake cables; and the brake mechanism itself to press against the rear wheel creating friction and allowing the bike to come to a stop.

When I found out all the instruments that went into making my bike move, I no longer looked at it as a device that got me from point A to B, but an exceptional intricate machine. How about you?