After the British Museum: itineraries for touring historic Sicily

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | There are merely a few days left to see the British Museum's electrical flow exhibition Sicily: Culture together with Conquest (closes 14th August 2016). If you've visited the museum's exhibit , or are planning to see this calendar week , together with disclose yourself tempted yesteryear the thought of Sicilian go , I've come upwards up with some ideas for itineraries , below.

The exhibition is a expert introduction to the history of the remarkable Italian isle , with photos together with exhibits to whet the appetite for travel. It concentrates to a greater extent than oft than non on ii phases of the island's long together with varied history: the Greeks together with the Normans. These are alone ii of the exterior cultures which cause got occupied Sicily , hence it's non a consummate overview , but given the wealth of history together with the museum's express infinite , it's a fair choice. There are brief illustrations of other phases of history , including the concluding exhibit , a epitome of the Madonna together with Child yesteryear Antonello da Messina (from the National Gallery).

Exihibits predominantly come upwards from the British Museum itself , from the archaeological museums inwards Siracusa together with Palermo , together with from Agrigento together with Gela. The Cappella Palatina inwards Palermo features inwards the cast of large together with detailed photographs.

If you lot even hence cause got fourth dimension left afterward seeing the exhibition , upstairs inwards Room xc you'll disclose a large collection of Francis Towne's Italian watercolours; to a greater extent than oft than non depicting Rome together with the surrounding surface area (this gratis exhibition likewise closes on 14th August).

Agrigento

Sicily historical itineraries

If you've seen the exhibition together with are laid upwards to intend most a vacation inwards Sicily , hither are some ideas for itineraries which follow on from the British Museum's displays:

Greek itinerary

This curt Greek itinerary tin terminate endure joined onto the Norman itinerary below to give an overview of these ii eras - every bit good every bit seeing some of Sicily's finest sights. It's easiest to hire a machine to tour Sicily , but if you're patient together with conception merely about omnibus together with prepare timetables , it's possible to meet the isle yesteryear populace carry - this is what I've ever done. Palermo is the best aerodrome to purpose for this tour , though Catania is likewise viable for an extended itinerary.

Selinunte - i of Sicily's less-known treasures , this Greek site yesteryear the bounding main is large together with evocative. It was destroyed inwards a Carthaginian siege; Sicily's history of conquest is real evident here. It's a large site hence I'd advise staying nearby. Selinunte is reached yesteryear local omnibus from Castelvetrano , which is on the island's rails together with omnibus network. Salemi buses run from Palermo to Castelvetrano , together with they likewise operate the local service to Selinunte. Lumia buses connect Castelvetrano with Agrigento.

Ruins of Selinunte

 Agrigento - the Valley of the Temples is rightly famous; this must endure i of the most impressive archaeological sites inwards the world. The hillside town together with the museum (which contains some of the exhibits featured inwards the British Museum exhibition) are likewise worth visiting; staying at to the lowest degree i black volition give you lot the best adventure of enjoying the town - ii nights volition permit for a to a greater extent than leisurely exploration. Agrigento is most ii hours yesteryear prepare from Palermo - though if you lot cause got fourth dimension , you lot tin terminate extend your tour to Siracusa inwards the south-eastern corner of the island.

Siracusa -  a non bad metropolis intermission goal inwards its ain correct , Siracusa has a history every bit an of import Greek metropolis , an archaeological zone , together with an first-class museum. It adds quite a chip of extra go to this itinerary , hence if you're planning a curt vacation , you lot could consider leaving the town for a futurity trip. To attain Siracusa from Agrigento , you lot tin terminate grab a omnibus to Catania aerodrome together with and hence alter to a omnibus for Siracusa - or grab a prepare to Siracusa from Catania station. Heading from Siracusa dorsum due north , the easiest alternative for populace carry is in all probability a omnibus (Interbus) from Siracusa to Palermo , where you lot tin terminate proceed the tour into Norman Sicily.

Norman Itinerary

Following on from the Greek tour inwards a higher house , this itinerary on Sicily's northern coast allows you lot to meet fine architecture , museums together with mosaics - every bit good every bit enjoying metropolis life , Sicilian street nutrient together with a intermission yesteryear the seaside.

Palermo cathedral

Palermo -  a expert base of operations for a span of days or to a greater extent than , Sicily's uppercase is the best house to sense Greek together with Arab Sicily. Important sights include the Palatine Chapel inwards Palazzo dei Normanni , the Cathedral (don't fille a tour upwards to the roof) together with the mosaics inwards the church building of La Martorana. Palermo's archaeological museum has been unopen for years for restoration , but does host exhibitions; when opened upwards it's good worth visiting.

Monreale - a curt omnibus ride from the centre of Palermo , Monreale's Norman cathedral , cloisters together with golden mosaics are with the wonders of Norman Sicily.

Cefalù- a lovely seaside town where you lot tin terminate relax on the beach , explore the quondam town centre , climb upwards to hillside ruins together with admire some to a greater extent than amazing mosaics inwards the town's Norman cathedral. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 expert house to bask some vacation atmosphere afterward Sicily's museums together with ruins. Just a hr yesteryear prepare from Palermo. To larn to Palermo aerodrome , grab the prepare dorsum to Palermo , together with and hence the airport bus from the station.

Sicily's other historical highlights

Agrigento Ephebe , Archaeological Museum Agrigento

To larn an insight into the other eras of Sicily's history , a circuit merely about the island's coastline takes the visitor through some remarkable sights. It would makes sense to permit at to the lowest degree iii weeks for a to a greater extent than consummate tour - or separate the isle upwards together with see to a greater extent than than i time , seeing the eastern one-half of the isle (flying into Catania airport) together with the western one-half (Palermo airport) separately. Sicily is a actually rich together with varied goal which definitely repays multiple visits. Highlights include:

Mozia , Erice and the Egadi islands - Sicily's western coast has ruins together with artefacts of the Phoenician occupants of Sicily , every bit good every bit the interesting Egadi islands , the site of the bounding main battles which gave Rome govern over Sicily.

Taormina - Sicily's most pop resort , Taormina doesn't cause got expert museums , but its Greco-Roman house is spectacular. Important to Greeks , Romans together with and hence to tourists from the 19th century onwards , Taormina contains a lot of Sicily's history inwards i modest picturesque town. Taormina's on the island's eastern coast , non far from historic Catania.

Lipari - The Aeolian islands were strategically located on ancient bounding main routes , together with Lipari was a well-off isle inwards Greek times. The archaeological museum has an first-class collection of Greek vases together with of terra cotta masks.

Baroque towns - Sicily's Baroque towns , rebuilt afterward an earthquake inwards 1693 , offering an attractive contrast to the island's ancient archaeology. They give an insight into to a greater extent than recent Sicilian history , are attractive places to remain , together with are increasingly pop every bit vacation destinations cheers for the Sicilian TV detective Inspector Montalbano. Ragusa is i of the best destinations , along with Scicli , Noto and Modica , famous for its chocolate.

Marble altar-decoration , ninth century , Archaeological Museum Agrigento (featured inwards the British Museum exhibition)

Head of telamon , Agrigento Archaeological Museum

Admiring the mosaic of Roger II existence crowned yesteryear Christ , La Martorana , Palermo

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Rome inwards 2012 (at 2765 years of age)

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | The 21st Apr is Rome's official birthday. Founded , according to long-standing legend , inwards 753BC , the urban heart is forthwith two ,765 years old.

I direct hold merely returned from a calendar week inwards Rome together with noticed roughly large changes from the fourth dimension , 10 years agone , when I lived inwards the city. It is however an amazing identify , amongst ancient history on every corner. There seemed to hold out to a greater extent than cars on the streets , which tin give the axe exclusively hold out a bad matter inwards a urban heart already notorious for its traffic chaos. There were also fewer scooters inwards utilization , though perchance that was a effect of the bad conditions during my see , together with many to a greater extent than bicycles.

Most noticeably , the urban heart has perish to a greater extent than modern together with - similar the residue of Italy - vastly to a greater extent than expensive. I had booked my trip to coincide amongst the Settimana della Cultura , when Italy's province monuments together with museums are opened to the populace gratis of charge. But fifty-fifty this countrywide first wasn't plenty to drib the cost of visiting the Forum , Colosseum together with Palatine from €12. Perhaps that's non bad value , considering the importance of the 3 combined sites together with the cost of their upkeep. But I retrieve amongst nostalgia the days when I would accept a curt cutting domicile through the middle of the Forum , which was opened upwards gratis of charge. Now it is opened upwards exclusively from a duad of entrances at a high cost , this historic catch of the urban heart is no longer an integrated go of Rome , merely roughly other tourist sight. (And the enclosed site forthwith agency a long detour for pedestrians).

The Ludovisi Throne inwards Palazzo Altemps

One of the major differences inwards Rome is the form of tourism. Of course of report in that location were e'er tour groups inwards Rome. But inwards 2012 the proportion of tourists visiting every bit go of a grouping seemed to me much larger. At the original sights , the Forum , Colosseum together with Vatican Museums , in that location were huge queues , amongst independent tourists queueing for every bit much every bit 40 minutes to gain admittance , piece large tour groups were ushered past. (For the Forum together with Colosseum , I would highly recommend purchasing a Roma Pass for fast-track admission). Meanwhile , Rome's other wonderful museums , off the tour-groups' itineraries , were nearly empty despite the treasures they incorporate together with despite the offering of gratis admission. While it was squeamish to encounter marvels similar the Ara Pacis amongst no crowds , it was also real sorry to think of these sights beingness overlooked , together with perchance underfunded , due to the changing nature of tourism. On a sidenote I was curious to encounter tourists queueing to pay the reduced cost of €8 to encounter contemporary exhibitions at MAXXI , piece all the town's unique heritage museums were free.

I used to think that key Rome was large plenty to absorb whatever publish of tourists , but that was earlier together with thence many of those tourists were inwards groups of twenty-plus people. And amongst the increment inwards cruising holidays , the daily influx volition increase. I came to the decision that present , to see the large sights is a necessary but arduous experience. But in i trial you lot direct hold competed amongst the crowds for the day-trip destinations , you lot tin give the axe bask the city's other attractions at your leisure. Take the fourth dimension to wander through the lanes of the centro storico , see the smaller (and cheaper) museums , search for out-of-the-way antiquities together with you lot volition direct hold a much to a greater extent than enriching experience.

Puntarelle together with fiori di zucca inwards the market

Rome has been spending money. The dilapidated towers together with picturesque creeper which adorned roughly of the centro storico's petty lanes direct hold gone , to hold out replaced amongst restored masonry together with bland facades. H5N1 duad of my personal favourite spots had lost much of their charm. It was genuinely a relief to encounter the Tritone outpouring inwards Piazza Barberini looking much every bit it has e'er done. Big restorations are however underway elsewhere , together with piece roughly of these are welcome , I suspect roughly of the Italian fondness for over-reconstruction is also at play.

Another large alter is digital photography. Everywhere I went , tourists were photographing away amongst indiscriminate abandon. In St. Peter's in that location was no-one praying , no-one consulting guidebooks , no-one fifty-fifty  standing together with looking around. Just a body of body of water of illuminated LCD screens held upwards inwards the air. Italian teenagers were queueing to rub a statue's holy toe , every bit ever , but forthwith they were filming themselves together with presumably planning to stick the sense on Facebook. It's real dissimilar approach to travel. The weirdest matter I saw was a Russian adult woman groping the statue of the Dying Gaul inwards the Capitoline Museums , piece her fellow took a photograph of the act.

After living inwards Venice , it was a huge pleasance to supply to a urban heart amongst cheaper , amend together with to a greater extent than reliable restaurants. These are to a greater extent than expensive than they used to hold out , together with slicker , amongst to a greater extent than unusual menus together with a less leisurely approach to service - but the nutrient is however splendid together with nosotros enjoyed cracking meals at roughly of the same restaurants I direct hold been visiting for 10 years. Local specialities such every bit fried artichoke and pasta cacio e pepe however gain total the menus , together with you lot tin give the axe swallow skillful filling nutrient at reasonable prices.

Mostly , despite the changes , Rome stays the same. The urban heart is however mellow together with beautiful. There are however queues for the best java inwards Rome at Sant'Eustachio , however flowers on Caesar's memorial , however political poems taped to the statue of Pasquino.

House of Augustus , on the Palatine

Among this trip's novel highlights were the Lux inwards Arcana exhibition at the Capitoline Museums - decipher a missive of the alphabet from Michelangelo , report the seals attached to Henry VIII's divorce asking - together with the frescoes inwards Augustus's family on the Palatine hill. One of my favourite moments was inwards the marvellous Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (a well-organised collection of Roman sculptures , mosaics together with wall-paintings). On the top flooring is a remarkable display of Roman interior design; the wall-paintings from several Roman villas. Peering into i  colourful sleeping accommodation , an older Italian lady beckoned me over amongst a "Pssst! Signora!". She wanted to indicate out her favourite icon - "che meraviglia!" - together with informed me that of all the sights inwards the entire the world , this flooring of this museum was for certain the most beautiful. She certainly had a indicate , together with to encounter these sights , gratis of accuse together with amongst exclusively a handful of visitors , was quite remarkable.

My latest tips for Rome , afterwards this trip:

• Stay long plenty to avoid the crowds together with see Rome's fabulous museums 
• Take a skillful map together with guidebook together with larn off the beaten track
• Buy a Roma Pass to minimise queueing at the Forum together with Colosseum
• Stamp your ticket earlier boarding the Leonardo Express train betwixt Fiumicino Airport together with Stazione Termini - the conductor was the nastiest official I've ever seen inwards Italy , together with was enjoying victimising unusual tourists amongst demands for €50 per caput fines
• If you're on a budget , see during adjacent year's Settimana della Cultura

I volition hold out adding fresh eating seat together with museum recommendations inwards the close future.
> More nigh Rome

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5 Best Traveling Tips Bali for Your Best Tour Experience

Are you planning to go to Bali? Well, you will need these traveling tips Bali. The reference about traveling here will prepare you to get the best experience enjoying a short or long holiday in Bali, Indonesia. Bali is famous because of its beauty. The local culture and tourism areas are offered to the visitor.
However, some of them get a problem during vacation. Therefore, find out these important traveling tips in Bali for you. 

Trick to Manage Holiday in Bali

1. Best Areas
There are two areas where must be visited by the tourist regarding travel tips Bali. They are south Bali and Ubud. The fresh and natural atmosphere from these areas is unbelievable. Here are the places that you must visit in South Bali. They are Uluwatu Temple, Kuta Beach, Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Park, Jimbaran Beach, Dreamland Beach, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa Beach, Pecatu, and many other magnificent beaches. On the other hand, Ubud also has great places to visit such as Monkey Forest, Authentic Tracking Bali, and many other natural tracking and scenery.

2. Respect the religious days
In Bali, there is a big day for the local people. It is called as a Nyepi day, which means silent. In that day, every shop is closed. Even more, the people do not even talk. The visitor must give respect by making no noise during a day. However, this day is very well known as the best cultural and traditional even in Bali. You can also perpetuate this special moment. This is one of the most important traveling tips Bali to remind.

3. Shopping
To get the local food, the visitor can go to the local cafe or restaurant with very affordable prices. However, some of the cafes in Bali have similar price tags with some developed countries. In addition, you can also find the best place for shopping the souvenir and everything about Bali. They are Sukawati market, Khrisna Bali market, Joger, Nusantara Village, Galuh Art Shop, Guwang Market, and many others.

4. Be aware
Some animals look so cute. However, actually, some of them are rabby. You need to be careful to walk around the area with full of the wild animals. In addition, you may be aware of the usage of bottles. This city produces a lot of plastic water bottle. It would be wise to avoid using it. Do not litter the bottle or dirt in everywhere!

5. Find the right guide
When you are traveling first in Bali, it is better to choose a travel guide. You can check on the popular travel agents in Bali that serve various guide lists and price. Of course, the guide will show the best destination and all about Bali. It is also done to avoid being lost in somewhere in Bali.

Well, those 5 tips are important to remind when planning to Bali. At least, you need to know first what is in Bali and how the condition is. Therefore, always prepare everything well before going to vacation in Bali to get the best experience. So, plan your trip with these 5 traveling tips Bali for a better moment.

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The Golden Circle: navigating Iceland's most touristed route

Hello friends |

Boiling hot geysers , a spectacular waterfall , the magical national green of Þingvellir... all inside a days drive - there's a argue that the Golden Circle is the most touristed route inward Iceland.  Here are some tips to soak upwardly the beauty without beingness knocked close past times crowds.

I should start amongst the basics.  The 'Golden Circle' is marketed inward a diverseness of ways - but it ever includes Geysir , Gullfoss and Þingvellir (which you lot mightiness meet written phonetically similar Thingvellir).  If you're looking at tours , many include the Blue Lagoon as well as Kerið too.  I'm going to tell you lot avoid tours similar the plague.  No , really , trust me.  

The map inward a higher house shows the route that Nicholas as well as I did.  We started at Hverageði , thus made our agency some the circle ending inward Reykjavik.  The driving part took 3.5 hours , as well as the entire circular trip took ix hours , including soaking inward the hot river at Hverageði.  Allow a solar daytime for the circular trip.

If you lot go inward summertime , allow a night.

The hot river at Hverageði simply earlier midnight

If , similar most people , you lot conception to view Republic of Iceland inward summertime , there's no ameliorate agency to brand the most of 24 sixty minutes sunlight than to halt past times the top tourist spots inward the middle of the night.  Iceland's scenery is the materials legends are made of , but it's difficult to live on mystified past times bubbling volcanic pots as well as dwarfed past times powerful waterfalls when you're looking over mortal else's shoulder.

I'm non exaggerating either - at whatsoever given daylight sixty minutes , you're jump to meet multiple tourist buses.  Sometimes you'll meet to a greater extent than than 6 or vii at a time. 

Don't bother adjusting your slumber cycle.  Just alternative upwardly a motorcar as well as pass the black driving.  

Kerið - the crater lake

Make the journeying from Hverageði to Kerið , where you lot tin walk the perimeter of this beautiful crater lake.  Err on the side of caution hither - sometimes it tin live on unopen off subsequently hours.

The smoking pools close Geysir

Geysir is literally THE geyser that made geysers geysers.  It's non really active anymore , but that's totally ok because Strokkur - Geysir's next-door-neighbour - goes off every few minutes.  Some eruptions are to a greater extent than spectacular than others , thus it's worth hanging some for a skillful one.

Some pools are completely inactive (but however hot , thus don't touch!) as well as are almost illuminated amongst an intense brilliant blueish light.  They're really pretty spectacular.  Don't throw coins inward them , though - a) the signs tell non to , b) that's a waste matter of perfectly skillful coins , as well as Republic of Iceland is pricey.

Your adjacent halt volition in all probability live on Gullfoss. Once upon a fourth dimension , Republic of Iceland were going to utilise its ability for liberate energy , but they didn't , as well as straightaway you lot tin larn admire it.  It's been described every bit 'Iceland's Niagara Falls' , as well as for skillful reason.  It's a beautiful waterfall , amongst 2 broad falls , as well as its falls are shrouded inward folktales.   

Not far from Gullfoss is the UNESCO-listed Þingvellir , situated inward the centre of its national park.  Þingvellir was listed every bit a UNESCO site inward 2004 , for its historical as well as geological significance.  Historically , Þingvellir is the place of the offset parliament of Republic of Iceland (also where they drowned witches).  Geologically , Þingvellir is where the Eurasian as well as North American tectonic plates are drifting apart.  If you're upwardly for something genuinely unforgettable , try scuba diving or snorkelling between the plates of the Silfra canyon.

EDIT: I convey really done this straightaway , as well as would 100% completely recommend.

The stance from Þingvellir

Öxarárfoss , in Þingvellir National Park

As nosotros were driving dorsum to Reykjavik - simply earlier 9am - nosotros passed Mossfellskirkja , which is i of my favourite churches we've seen inward Iceland.  It simply looks completely infinite historic catamenia as well as out of house amongst the surrounding mountains.  I advise you lot halt as well as marvel at this bizarre slice of architecture.  Even this early on inward the morn , tour buses filled amongst people were passing us the other agency (headed toward Þingvellir) , as well as nosotros were feeling really glad to live on finishing upwardly for the black as well as convey the whole circle completely to ourselves.  

Ok , nosotros saw i mink scurrying some close Geysir , but I don't intend he counts.

The Golden Circle was a pretty fantastic eventide trip , but wouldn't convey had the same magic to it if I'd been surrounded past times tour buses total of people! If you're headed to Republic of Iceland as well as it's on your to-do listing (it in all probability should be) , start planning a night-time route trip.

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Castelfranco Veneto Giorgione Exhibition

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |

Today I visited Castelfranco Veneto for the Giorgione 2010 exhibition. This marks the 500th twelvemonth since the painter's death; which is i of the few known details of his life - a alphabetic lineament referring to it is included inwards the exhibition. The man's paintings are every bit mysterious every bit his life: at that spot aren't many positive attributions to Giorgione as well as there's much combat over the images as well as symbolism inwards his works. His most famous ikon is in all probability 'The Tempest' , usually to endure constitute inwards the Accademia Gallery inwards Venice exactly loaned to Castelfranco for this exhibition.

Castelfranco Veneto is a pleasant pocket-size town as well as today was a overnice sunny 24-hour interval for walking around the high , brick town walls as well as past times feature Veneto arcaded buildings. The exhibition is carefully presented , though every bit most of the labelling is inwards Italian , you lot may wishing to hire an audio-guide. There are exhibits providing the context for Giorgione's life as well as go - unrest inwards the portion , wealthy humanist patrons , commissions inwards Venice , his artistic contemporaries - as well as and thus a collection of paintings past times Giorgione (18 of them) , industrial plant perhaps past times , or partly past times , Giorgione , as well as and thus fine art past times his contemporaries to illuminate his artistic surroundings as well as influences. It's non a real large exhibition - you lot tin sack run into it inwards nether an lx minutes - exactly it is interesting as well as position together well. Giorgione's paintings are intriguing as well as haunting. I was peculiarly struck past times a double portrait of a lovelorn beau inwards front end of a to a greater extent than spirited facial expression upward , as well as past times an instance of '3 ages of man'. The faces are compelling , as well as inwards many of the paintings at that spot are foreign as well as fascinating details.



I visited at lunchtime , which worked good every bit the rooms were fairly empty. I saw a tour grouping of Italian senior citizens brand it later on luncheon , thus I was glad I'd timed my view right. The rooms aren't large as well as you lot actually take away some fourth dimension as well as infinite to regard the paintings.

After visiting the exhibition I paid a 2nd view to the Giorgione altarpiece inwards the cathedral (a side-entrance to the Giorgione chapel was kept opened upward fifty-fifty during the church's lunchtime closure.) Then I headed to a bar on the corner which served meals as well as snacks , the Bistro San Giustino. It was real lively with locals perched on tables close the bar or eating inwards the internal dining room - from teenagers inwards a gaggle past times the door eating sandwiches to lunchtime workers chatting with colleagues over pasta as well as wine. The friendly waitresses constitute me a tabular array amongst a arrange of armour as well as I enjoyed pasta with pumpkin , gorgonzola as well as walnuts , followed past times fondi di carciofi. Along with a drinking glass of local Prosecco as well as some H2O , the repast terms me €11 , thus it was a quick as well as inexpensive means to dine.

There's non much else to practise inwards Castelfranco other than walk around the town walls. There's an interesting-sounding villa garden inwards town , exactly I haven't even thus constitute it open.

Castelfranco makes a adept 24-hour interval trip - or a half-day trip - from Venice at whatever time. However , piece the solely specific attraction usually is the altarpiece , at acquaint the exhibition makes it a actually appealing destination. The provincial tourist board are manifestly real excited. They've instigated an 'Isola dei Musei' (Island of Museums) whereby your Giorgione ticket tin sack instruct you lot discount admission into a position out of other local sights , as well as there's a special motorbus service on Sat afternoons as well as Sundays which volition cause got you lot to these , including 2 villas designed past times Palladio. With a chip of careful planning , it's possible to agree inwards a lot to a greater extent than tourism than would usually endure possible without a car.

> Giorgione 2010 exhibition
> My guide to Castelfranco Veneto
> Article inwards the Times almost the exhibition

I noticed from my onetime photos (taken 2 years ago) that Castelfranco Veneto has fifty-fifty cleaned upward its statues for this large event. Here's a 'before' motion ikon to compare with today's paradigm (at the laissez passer on of this article):

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