Italian footballers inwards pants

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 friend simply sent me this link to Dolce in addition to Gabbana's website alongside the comment "and they wonder why other countries mean value they're gay!?"
> Footballers modelling underwear

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Easter inwards Rome

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | The BBC has a brusk article in addition to photographs nigh the Good Fri procession inwards Rome , where the Pope leads a candle-lit Via Crucis procession some the Colosseum - a real atmospheric rite , in addition to an evocative place , given its history
> Pilgrims score Holy Week inwards Rome.

There's too a characteristic nigh a creepier parade inwards Sicily , inwards the Cosa Nostra heartlands:
> Sicily's Easter penitents parade.

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Free civilization week

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | This calendar week inwards Italy it is the Settimana dei Beniculturali , during which state-owned museums function exceptional cultural events together with offering costless admission. The final result runs until the 20th May together with then if you're visiting Italy inwards the side past times side few days you'll last able to induce got wages of around costless heritage together with culture.

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Ponte di Calatrava - Venice's 4th twain arrives

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | After xi years of arguing , Venice's novel couplet -only the 4th couplet over the Grand Canal - is due to opened upward this winter. The 'Ponte di Calatrava' every bit it is currently known (its finally official elevate has withal to endure decided) was designed yesteryear Castilian architect Photos from the Repubblica newspaper
> Repubblica article describing the bridge's journey (in Italian)
> Central department arrives: more photos from the Repubblica
> Slightly oddly-written Our amount move conduct to Venice

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Cheaper flights to Italy

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland travellers volition go interested inward an article from The Times which revealed the cheaper prices available for British Airways flights if yous majority them through U.S. of A. of America websites. As an event they constitute prices for flights betwixt Rome in addition to London which were cheaper than those on BA's official United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland of Britain in addition to Northern Republic of Ireland website.
> Cheap flights via U.S. of A. of America websites (The Times)

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Venice Film Festival 2007

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |
This year's Venice Film Festival begins on the 29th August , amongst a overflowing of directors too actors arriving inwards the city. The number takes identify on the Lido amongst boat services from fundamental Venice. As good equally the festival films , at that topographic point are besides showings to a greater extent than or less Venice , including at the summer's open-air moving painting identify inwards Campo San Polo. It gets quite a lot of coverage inwards newspapers (a bully jaunt for journalists) too hence await to meet enough of photographs too articles inwards the side past times side couplet of weeks.

> Venice Film Festival 2007 (our article)
> The Telegraph's department on the festival
> Biennale Cinema - the official website

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Child pickpockets inward Venice

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | One of the big issues inward Venice inward the final 2 months has been the appearance of Romanaian kid pickpockets – the form you'll conduct hold seen inward Rome too other Italian cities if yous conduct hold travelled unopen to Italia inward recent years. Under fourteen years of historic menstruum , these children cannot hold upward held accountable for their crimes past times local law. They're picked upward past times law , taken to kid refuges , thence they abscond inward the morning. Some of the children are stopped past times carabinieri too fed-up local vigilantes too shopkeepers on a daily footing , exactly the rewards are corking too they proceed on robbing.

Tourists should e'er hold upward careful inward crowded places too should proceed bags firmly fastened too nether their command at all times. Be streetwise – Venice is a real prophylactic town exactly pickpocketing is i matter yous should await out for. Favourite places for the robbers include busy lanes too bridges , the charabanc terminus at Piazzale Roma , the St. Mark's expanse too rush-hour waterbuses. Don't hold upward lulled into a fake feel of safety if the entirely people close yous are ten-year-olds or heavily-pregnant girls; these are classic examples of the pickpockets sent out past times Fagin-like operators. In the final calendar week the paper has reported children every bit immature every bit v existence employed inward crime. Be real aware of people falling inward behind yous inward a queue , peculiarly if yous are existence jostled. Shout loudly too attract attending if mortal attempts to rob you.

Since writing this it nearly happened to me! On Lord's Day inward Dorsoduro I was crossing a brace when I became aware of a immature daughter moving inward unopen behind me , on the side where I carried my shoulder bag. Although I didn't come across her or her companion , a slightly older man child , genuinely rob anyone , it was clear that this was their game. They would select a position on a brace , picket every bit tourists walked past times , thence the daughter would laid out to follow the tourists downwards alleys every bit the man child kept a await out. When they realised I was watching them they moved off. I would gauge that she was most xi years quondam , too the man child was mayhap 13. Stay alert!

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Rupert Everett & Italy's pricey beaches

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | As outlined inward our recent article about Italian beaches , access to the body of body of water tin hold upwardly tricky in addition to expensive inward Italy. Despite the many fee-paying beach establishents , earth ought to bring complimentary access to the water's edge. Often , yet , this is difficult or fifty-fifty impossible. Each summertime at that spot are protests inward Italy from consumer groups. And this twelvemonth they bring an unlikely hero: British histrion Rupert Everett. During his trip to the 2007 Venice Film Festival (official website) , held at the seaside Lido , he apparently attempted to seat his towel downwards on the sand at the water's border in addition to was moved on. (He apparently didn't trek to the 'free beach'). Now at that spot are hopes (perhaps unlikely) that he volition spearhead a exam illustration against Venice council.

We've tried walking along the body of body of water inward front end of all the expensive beach concessions on the Lido in addition to non been ordered off (a beach guard did follow us for a piece though). And at that spot are unremarkably a few bold sunbathers who've brought their ain towels to the water's border , in addition to then we're a fleck surprised that Everett encountered these problems. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 proficient affair though , if it focusses to a greater extent than attending on this Italian problem. There's in addition to then much coin beingness made yesteryear beach businesses that local politicians (who are to a greater extent than oft than non likewise businessmen) plough a blind see to fenced-off beaches. Italians attention what foreigners mean value of them , though , in addition to then mayhap this volition hold upwardly a catalyst for change. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 shame it didn't order off at the get-go of the summertime season.
> The Guardian: How Rupert Everett became the hero of Venice's bathing classes

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Exploring north-east Italy

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Over recent weeks we've been adding to our coverage of north-east Italy , especially the mainland around Venice. 's latest pages include descripions of the Veneto spa towns Abano Terme in addition to Montegrotto Terme , in addition to the much to a greater extent than picturesque Lake Garda resorts Sirmione in addition to Desenzano del Garda. In Desenzano nosotros stayed inwards the prissy lilliputian Hotel Piroscafo , which nosotros recommend. We too had a groovy repast inwards a eating theater called Kapperi , which served splendid dishes at expert prices , alongside a pretty courtyard , decor somewhere betwixt elegant in addition to kitsch , in addition to queues of glam immature Italians arriving belatedly in addition to begging for tables.

In Venice we've compiled lists of Venice luxury hotels in addition to hotels on the Grand Canal (not 'near' but truly facing onto the water). Our newest page is nigh Palazzo Fortuny , a lovely Gothic edifice which is currently housing the extremely eclectic exhibition Artempo.

Venice today , incidentally , has had some incredible downpours , alongside parts of the mainland settlements Mestre in addition to Marghera truly flooded , alongside 4 months' worth of pelting falling inwards but a few hours.

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Important Rome cave find; white truffle; carry strike

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | The nearly exciting slice of word from Italia inward the finally few weeks has been the annunciation of a hugely of import regain inward Rome. In the honeycomb of the Palatine loma , archaeologists convey uncovered (by accident) what is idea to live the Lupercal: the cave revered inward Ancient Rome every bit the site of the mythical founding of the metropolis , where Romulus too Remus were suckled yesteryear the wolf.
> BBC: 'Mythical Roman cave' unearthed (article , photos too video footage)

Another regain - less momentous exactly nevertheless thrilling to foodie circles - was made inward the reason of Tuscany , non yesteryear archaeologists exactly yesteryear a dog. The white truffle located yesteryear Rocco , a mongrel , weighs 1.5kg too is the largest to live unearthed since the 1950s. Traditionally it is pigs who honor truffles , the difficulty is that evidently they tend to swallow the truffle. Dogs , beingness cleverer , tin strength out live trained non to swallow the precious fungi.
> Guardian: Italian mongrel leads possessor to record-breaking truffle

And lastly; if yous are planning to locomote on populace carry inward Italia on Fri , live warned. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 strike (sciopero) has been announced , although it remains to live seen how many workers volition adhere (strike on a Fri = long weekend alongside the family) , or if it volition genuinely larn ahead. It is due to touching nearly populace carry , including railways , from 9am-5pm , alongside possible variations inward cities. Airports may live affected betwixt 11am too 3pm The smaller airports used yesteryear budget airlines , too their dedicated autobus services , are oft surgery every bit normal. But banking company tally the websites of whatever carry firms yous are planning to locomote alongside too live prepared for delays.
> Italian carry ministry: data on strikes

And finally , if you've had problems catching a taxi inward Rome lately , or convey seen angry taxi drivers blocking squares , it's because taxi drivers convey been protesting over the issuing of licences.

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New Year strikes inwards the U.K. in addition to Italy

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Readers who are planning a New Year's Day getaway this Jan should deport inwards hear the risks of disruption to flights at 7 Great Britain airports. Strikes are scheduled at BAA airports on the seventh Jan 2008 in addition to the 14th Jan 2008 , each starting inwards the morning time in addition to lasting 24 hours. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 tertiary nail , on the 17th Jan 2008 , is due to final 48 hours. The airports involved - Stansted , Gatwick , Heathrow , Glasgow , Southampton , Aberdeen in addition to Edinburgh - could live shut downward totally during the strikes , in addition to delays may hold for a twenty-four hours or ii afterwards. This nightmare for travellers may yet live averted only the prospects aren't looking adept , in addition to therefore endeavor to avoid those dates , alter your flights if necessary , in addition to cheque the newspapers for the latest updates on the situation.
> BAA strikes nonetheless fix for January (The Times , 28 Dec 2007)

In Italy , the latest provisional nail dates include eighth Jan when at that spot is yet around other Alitalia nail (4 hours). There is a 24-hour rails nail from 9pm on twelfth Jan , in addition to around other from 9pm on 26th January. There is a full general world carry nail on 28th January. Sometimes these scheduled strikes are cancelled , sometimes they are postponed , in addition to sometimes at that spot is a nonetheless a basic service (usually trains run a minimum guaranteed service). But we'd recommend you lot avoid move plans for these dates if possible , in addition to cheque for the latest word on carry websites.
> Italian Transport Ministry: scheduled strikes (in Italian).

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UK strikes cancelled

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Good tidings for United Kingdom of Great Britain together with Northern Ireland travellers inwards January: the airdrome strikes scheduled to maiden off today accept been cancelled. The bad tidings is that although the one-bag hand-luggage dominion has right away been relaxed , this solely applies to approximately airports together with approximately airlines , together with therefore pessimistic onlookers are forecasting withal to a greater extent than delays due to the confusion. Ryanair together with Easyjet , for the 2nd , are sticking to a 'one pocketbook only' policy.
> Cabin pocketbook rules 'could confuse' (BBC)
> Our budget flying information together with tips for minimising airdrome delays

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Renaissance Siena at the National Gallery

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | It's the final run a peril for Londoners to encounter the Renaissance Siena exhibition at the National Gallery , which closes on the 13th January. It would move a bang-up mode to laid upward for a catch to the lovely Tuscan town ...
> Renaissance Siena exhibition
> Our tourist involve to Siena

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Venice Carnival 2008

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |
The 2008 Venice Carnival is nether agency - it's an early on festival this year. Venice is amount of revellers dressed inwards masks as well as cloaks. Saturday's opening events were all cancelled or postponed for what were basically political reasons (the metropolis inwards mourning over ii port-workers killed at work; a electrical flow media hot issue). But the metropolis filled upward anyway. We tend to avoid the huge crowds , but Carnival is truly a less stressful fourth dimension than you lot would think. During the calendar week the visitors are all tourists who are staying hither , as well as the numbers are manageable. It's at the weekends , when thousands of extra people come upward inwards yesteryear prepare as well as machine as well as omnibus , that Venice truly feels the strain. Even if you lot don't fancy the organised events as well as DJ shows , you lot tin admire the parade of costumes simply about town. The best house to larn is to St. Mark's , to the waterfront , where lots of fancy-dressed masked figures promenade as well as pose for photographers. Little crowds assemble simply about the best-dressed ones; it's a contest as well as you lot tin solely experience sad for those left to pose inwards vain. Most of the costumes we've seen as well as therefore far bring been quite skillful - we've pose a photograph gallery on the master copy website: Carnival 2008 Photos. You may wonder who they are , as well as why they create it , but perchance it's to a greater extent than fittingly mysterious non to know. Away from St. Mark's , Venice's master copy thoroughfares are busy but to a greater extent than fun than normal. You meet corners of cloaks swishing simply about corners; as well as every tourist seems to hold upward wearing a tricorne lid as well as perchance a mask. It's all rattling good-natured as well as the weather condition has been smile on the fun: sunny despite the cold.
> About Carnival

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Banks cards together with charges abroad

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 useful article inwards today's Times gives U.K. travellers a proficient run-down of the pitfalls together with problems of using plastic abroad. For several years straight off , overseas businesses direct keep offered customers the peril to pay inwards sterling. It may look that this is helpful but inwards fact they are close for certain out to net turn a profit from you lot , past times using an telephone commutation charge per unit of measurement which is inwards their favour. Meanwhile your depository fiscal establishment are sneaking profits from every transaction you lot make: hidden ones inwards the illustration of credit cards , together with visible charges inwards the illustration of debit cards. If you lot go a lot , it makes feel to obtain i of the few cards alongside no charges or 'loading' on telephone commutation rates. And getting your currency inwards advance is ameliorate than withdrawing coin from overseas cash machines , where your depository fiscal establishment is probable to accuse you lot a fee each time.

In Italia we've alone been offered the 'chance' to pay inwards sterling a twain of times; therefore this fob isn't likewise common. Remember to say no , you lot prefer to pay inwards euros. And earlier you lot go you lot should depository fiscal establishment check your bank's charges , together with consider shopping around: Nationwide currently direct keep the best bill of fare to purpose overseas , together with you lot could terminate upwards saving a fair chip of money.

> The vacation credit bill of fare swindle

It's e'er a proficient sentiment to monitor your spending on credit together with debit cards , either piece away or on your return. We've simply been charged twice for a hotel rest , which may direct keep been a genuine fault but nevertheless required several telephone calls together with emails to our depository fiscal establishment together with the hotel concerned to resolve. Be alert.

Using cash

In Italia businesses unremarkably prefer cash (as exercise Italians inwards general; they're non trusting of plastic or of banks) together with simply about shops , modest hotels , B&Bs together with many restaurants won't fifty-fifty convey bill of fare payments. So go alongside adequate cash supplies , together with enough of smaller denominations to satisfy the fussy Italian staff who loathe giving change. And of shape e'er depository fiscal establishment check your change. Watch out especially for the 'slow change' fob , where a store assistant who owes you lot , say , €7.50 alter volition manus over €2.50 , together with therefore intermission to run into if you lot volition convey this earlier - if you lot stand upwards your position down - slow producing the €5 note. Shamefully , in that place is i employee of the Venice carry fellowship ACTV who does this every fourth dimension nosotros purchase tickets. Remember that Italians don't trust each other , together with they volition honor you lot for beingness suspicious! Being furbo - sly , devious , on the brand - is seen every bit a proficient thing.

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Roman Forum & Palatine Rome

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |
An exciting novel sight has opened on the warren-like Palatine loma inwards Rome: simply about frescoed rooms of the villa of the Emperor Augustus. But alongside the expert intelligence comes bad: visitors must straightaway pay to operate inwards the Roman Forum (Foro Romano). I used to bask the fantastic sense of walking through the ruins on my means home; such casual visits volition straightaway survive a matter of the past. Hopefully the extra revenue volition survive used for preservation as well as archaeology.
> House of Augustus opens to public (BBC)

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Italy gardens on the BBC

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |
BBC's Around the World inward fourscore Gardens this night featured some of key Italy's finest gardens. We've visited together with written articles most some of these:
> Villa d'Este , Tivoli - fountain-filled hillside garden to a greater extent than or less Rome
> Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa) , outside Tivoli - the huge province palace of the Emperor Hadrian
> Villa Lante , Bagnaia - exquisite Renaissance garden inward northern Lazio

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Travel writing: truth or fiction?

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | Guardian's move blog) has provided a fascinating insight into the the world of impress move writing. To last honest , although I create oftentimes uncovering errors inwards move guides , I hadn't realised how brief some writers' enquiry actually is.

I prefer to kicking the bucket along a depression profile in addition to focus the website on Italia , non on the author , but to reassure readers: I've lived inwards Italia for several years , in addition to currently pass some one-half my fourth dimension inwards the country. I utter Italian in addition to is amount of data in addition to tips I couldn't conduct maintain discovered whatsoever other way. All the text is original; equally good equally visiting sites , catching buses , bespeak questions in addition to dutifully sampling H2O ice creams , vino in addition to nutrient , I also enquiry data using a diverseness of books in addition to publications in addition to cross-check where possible. As I promise is clear from my goal pages , I conduct maintain visited in addition to explored precisely nearly every house described on the website (there are all the same i or ii exceptions) , in addition to I drive to last equally accurate equally possible inwards describing a town equally I establish it. I've never pretended to conduct maintain been anywhere I haven't laid human foot , nor invented eating theater or hotel reviews. All the photos are taken particularly for the website.

I suppose I could photograph myself yesteryear landmarks to attempt out my travelling credentials but that seems rather unnecessary in addition to I prefer to last to a greater extent than anonymous. However , a trivial travelling companion has accompanied me on my most recent trip in addition to I am including pictures of him to attempt out that he , at to the lowest degree , has visited Urbino , Florence in addition to other towns. As readers conduct maintain maybe larn to a greater extent than interested inwards personal reports in addition to authenticity , I'm considering adding to a greater extent than move journals onto the website to complement the factual reports.

I mean value that is equally reliable equally nosotros tin practicably kicking the bucket far without hiring a squad for constant updates. I ever mean value yous demand a impress guidebook inwards your manus equally yous explore , but I promise the website provides a adept starting bespeak for planning a trip in addition to deciding where to kicking the bucket in addition to what to see. For some smaller destinations our pages , although they are chop-chop plagiarised yesteryear other websites , are often the most detailed concern human relationship you'll find. In some cases , such equally the Venice department , our pages volition last equally adept equally in addition to to a greater extent than up-to-date than most guidebooks - we've sure as shooting eaten at our recommended restaurants to a greater extent than of late than the guidebooks conduct maintain been updated.

You should ever banking corporation stand upwards for for updates to charabanc timetables etc. using the links nosotros supply , in addition to last prepared for some things to conduct maintain changed. When researching online elsewhere , last wary inwards general: so much data out in that place is based on subjective reader contributions in addition to out-of-context plagiarism. Some websites rely on text which is out of copyright , in addition to thus decades out of date. Others are merely misfortunate translations of the local tourist board data (I've establish quite a few of these nearly Italia recently) so don't supply whatsoever practical advice or judgement.

If yous create conduct maintain whatsoever comments or updates permit us know - patently things alter in addition to nosotros ever desire to last equally accurate equally possible inwards our recommendations.

Recent articles:
Urbino
Pesaro , which I idea could last a adept vacation base of operations yesteryear the body of body of water (in Le Marche)
Ravenna - where in that place are fifty-fifty to a greater extent than fine mosaics than I'd expected; allow a duo of days to come across everything properly
(and yes! we've actually been in that place , in addition to precisely a few days agone too).

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Unusual places to rest inwards Italy

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com |
As travellers larn to a greater extent than adventurous , hotels inwards Italy are diversifying in addition to instead of traditional accommodation , y'all tin straightaway select from or then rather to a greater extent than interesting options. In the end few months we've stayed inwards a cave inwards Matera , inwards a trullo inwards Alberobello in addition to , end calendar week , on a yacht inwards Venice. We'll last looking for or then to a greater extent than odd places to remain , only inwards the meantime hither are our reviews:
> Locanda di San Martino - a cave hotel inwards Matera
> Trulli Holiday - trulli apartments to rent inwards Alberobello
> Sarah Lord's Day Island - a budget B&B on a yacht inwards Venice

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Around Venice & the Veneto

Welcome to HaloTrip.blogspot.com | This weekend inwards Italia is a pop 1 for traditional events as well as festivals. In Venice the Regata Storica - a boat procession as well as races - takes house on Dominicus eighth September - concluding twelvemonth ended inwards argument with angry rowers. Also this weekend , inwards the mainland Veneto , with the climax on Dominicus even out , are palio events inwards Montagnana as well as Castelfranco Veneto , both historic walled towns. Like the famous palio inwards Siena , these are costumed re-enactment type events , centred some a competitor betwixt dissimilar districts of the towns.
> Montagnana palio programme (in Italian)
> Palio of Castelfranco Veneto


Visiting Treviso

Yesterday I took a trip to Treviso as well as visited the reopened Museo di Santa Caterina. It has a skillful archaeological department as well as some interesting paintings. Most of the written explanations are inwards Italian alone - a shame given that the alone visitors I saw yesterday afternoon were English linguistic communication as well as French speakers. As good equally admiring the town inwards the sunshine , I also flora my agency into the hidden Sala del Capitolo , with the Church of San Nicolo. You truly cause got to move bold as well as larn inwards the religious seminary side past times side door - the frescoes past times Tomaso da Modena are worth the effort. New updated data volition move available really presently on our Treviso page.
> More well-nigh Treviso

And inwards Venice...
In Venice the film festival has seemed pretty unimpressive. The ornamentation of the top dog edifice - ripped white sheets with lions emerging - is underwhelming. The atmospheric condition is yet hot as well as sunny , though , as well as then festival-goers tin ever select the beach instead. (Read well-nigh the Lido).

Far to a greater extent than interesting has been my recent exploration of the Giudecca , a curious isle with all sorts of hidden alleys as well as picturesque corners. If you lot cause got a few days inwards Venice it's worth catching the vaporetto over hither for a panoramic drinkable or repast , as well as a wander around.

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