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Venice, Murano, & Burano

8/6/2017

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I think Venice is on most people's bucket lists as evidenced by the hordes of tourists during the summer. Is it as great as the magazines and travel vlogs make it to be? Yes, it's a pretty darn good city to visit. However, I would insist that you also visit the neighboring islands around Venice such as Murano, Torcello (skip), and Burano. 
In fact, I loved Burano the most and maybe even more than Venice itself...gasp!
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Burano is about a 45 minute boat ride from Venice, and you can't miss the colorful buildings as you approach.
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I felt as if I was walking around a movie set with all of the colorful houses and charming alleyways.
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We got lucky with these shots because the rain scared some people off in the morning. By the afternoon, these streets were filled with people.
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Notice that there aren't gondolas like in Venice. This used to be a fishing village, and supposedly the houses were painted bright colors so that the fishermen could easily spot them. Today, Burano is known for its intricate lace, which you can find at most shops.

Murano

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Glass blowing factories and shops line the streets of Murano. A lot of factories offer paid tours, but this one happened to have their doors open while the artists worked. It cracks me up that their idea of appropriate work attire with hot kilns nearby and glass shards on the ground includes T-shirts, shorts, Crocs, and a gold chain! Oh, they were also blasting American pop music the entire time. Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" was on full blast at one point--LOL!
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There are a myriad number of glass shops, but this one caught my eye with its sleek black display. I was in awe of the delicacy and intricacy of this handmade glass vase.
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Notice how there isn't an entire gelato collage this time around? I didn't feel the need to try every artisanal gelateria this time, but I had to take at least one gelato shot in Venice!
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This cafe offers handmade tiramisu in a variety of flavors from pistachio to apricot. You can even watch them make it fresh while you're there. This cafe is set next to a bridge, so you can sit outside with your freshly made tiramisu for a grand total of $4! I can't order tiramisu in the U.S. now without feeling robbed, but I guess it's cheaper than a plane ticket to Venice.

The Best Thing That Happened in Venice...

When I was in Florence last summer, I ate at the Mercato Centrale and it's still one of the best indoor food halls I've been to in Europe. We happened to be buying train tickets at the Venice train station when I saw the Mercato Centrale logo and signs that basically said "follow me," or at least that was my interpretation. Of course I followed it as each step was marked with anticipation. Could Mercato Centrale be in Venice? Is there really a foodie god? Yes, there is!
​Mercato Centrale happened to be on tour in Venice when we were there, so instead of going back to the hotel we stayed and ate. We even got to meet the director responsible for bringing this market on tour and I basically fangirled out even though he didn't speak English, so he probably thought I was a crazy American!
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My favorite food vendor at Mercato Centrale is Il Tartufo because they have all things truffle. These little bites were samples, and see those green slices on top? They look like olives, but they're actually truffle marinated little peaches before they get ripe. I've never had them before, nor have I seen them in the U.S. They're crispy like a peach can be, and they actually don't have much taste since they're so far from being ripe.
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Yeah, I just had to order my own charcuterie truffle plate after the samples. So good and fresh! The best part was that it cost about $11 for this gorgeous plate!
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The vendor also makes truffle pasta, and it is simply divine. It may look simple, but just wait until you take a bite of this truffle cream pasta. Drooling...
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My second favorite vendor is La Pasta Fresca, which offers fresh handmade pasta. This is their Venetian special crab ravioli. The ravioli was perfectly al dente with loads of crab meat.
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Cologne & Nuremberg

7/28/2017

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If you're looking for cities that feel more "German," then you should check out Cologne and Nuremberg. For whatever reason, Cologne was very empty and the weather was pretty gloomy. This actually made for climbing the 533 steps to the cathedral's south tower a bit more bearable. 
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Why climb 533 steps up? To get a workout so that you can eat more (duh) and see panoramic views of the city! It's a tight squeeze going up though and it spirals the entire way up.
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What should you do to escape the downpour that is about to happen? Go visit the chocolate museum, not that I needed an excuse to go anyway! The museum has great views of the Rhine River too.
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The museum was actually pretty extensive with 3 floors dedicated to the history of chocolate, how it's manufactured, economics of chocolate, a greenhouse, etc. There is also a floor where you can actually see the machines at work and this chocolate fountain. The lady in this picture, who is now your best friend, will give you a free chocolate dipped wafer. Enjoy some free chocolate along with the great view!
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It's Pope Francis in chocolate form!
Nuremberg is worth a visit not just to see Hitler's favorite Germanic city. Yes, you can visit the Nazi Rally Grounds and Documentation Center, but the city itself was very lively and charming with its old world charm. 
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The Documentation Center is a very neat building architecturally speaking. We didn't have time to go in, but we did manage to walk the rally grounds.
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The Nazi Rally Grounds is a self-guided outside tour. Zeppelin Field was a bit anticlimactic for me because pictures of the Nazi rallies made this place look bigger.
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The Nazi Rally Grounds loop around a lake, and it's actually a very idyllic walk. If there weren't signs around the lake, it would be easy to just think that this was a nice city park. This is a view from the lake of Congress Hall, which was unfinished.
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Nuremberg Castle is another nice spot to visit and walk around. You get a nice view of the city's charming architecture.
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These may look old, but they're actually rebuilt houses to restore the look of this city. So charming!
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We kept passing by Hans im Gluck, a burger place, and it was always busy so we decided we had to try it. I love the interior with the birch trees! Even their menu reads like a hipster fairy tale with illustrations.
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Look at how cute their drink bottle is in the back! The burger and fries were delish too from the bite that I had.
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Since it was hot, I wanted cool salads for lunch and this did not disappoint with sweet slices of pears, goat cheese, and sesame bread sticks.
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Mexico City

5/14/2017

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A week off + cheap flights + 3 hr. flight=Mexico City! That's the kind of math I like to do. Having been to the beautiful resort areas of Mexico, we wanted to explore a different part of Mexico and I'm so glad we did! There is so much history to see here, the food is amazing and the people are friendly! I wish more people got to see the positive side of Mexico instead of what is always portrayed on the news. 
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The Zocalo is the main square and it used to be the main ceremonial center of the Aztecs. How cool is that?!
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Templo Mayor is close to the Zocalo and it's definitely worth a visit. This temple, which predates Spanish colonization, dates back to the 1400's! Don't miss the extensive museum, which is included in the price of admission. Admission costs 70 pesos (that's about $4 USD), which is basically a latte!
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Are we looking at a cathedral in Europe? Nope! The Metropolitan Cathedral dates back to the 1500's and is beautiful inside.
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The Teotihuacan Pyramids are awe inspiring to experience in person. I didn't realize how extensive this city used to be. In fact, at one point, it was larger than Rome! Unlike other pyramids, people are allowed to climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon.
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The fact that people look like tiny ants climbing the Pyramid of the Sun gives you an idea of the sheer size of this pyramid.
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Ok, so Mexico City has lots of important cultural sights, but what about its dining scene? How about dining under a canopy of trees and candles? Azul Historico in Centro Historico is actually in a 17th century colonial building, and I'd highly recommend it if you don't want street food.
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Azul's signature black Oaxacan mole chicken enchiladas were only about $8.50. Crazy good!
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Not into mole enchiladas? How about chipotle steak that melts in your mouth for $11.50?
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Um...I might have ordered this duck mole as my second entree. Hey, I climbed pyramids that day!
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Lalo is in the hipster neighborhood of Roma, so we had to stop by and try their chilaquiles.
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Nudo Negro in Roma Norte is another restaurant I'd highly recommend. The chefs make amazing Asian fusion dishes, and they even invited us up to meet the chef who made us this beef skewer as the amuse bouche!
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Grilled oysters with wasabi and bone marrow from Nudo Negro was one of the best oyster dishes I've had.
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While you're in the Roma neighborhood, check out Mercado Roma. Yes, it's hipster and crowded, but it's definitely worth a visit for some good eats!
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Bye Mexico City...until next time!
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Baby Trevor

4/10/2017

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I swear the older I get, the faster time flies. Fast forward 3 years later, and I get an email from Conor's mom saying that she's pregnant with baby Trevor and that she'd like me to do his photo shoot too. It's always a special treat for me to be invited back to capture another sibling's first moments and to see how big the first sibling has gotten! As you can see, these two boys are just too cute!
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Berlin

3/26/2017

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I had heard so much about what a cool city Berlin is and I think it led to way too high of expectations. In hindsight, I'd still recommend it because of all the history there, but it just didn't knock my socks off. I'm glad I went to eat a doner kebab, and oh yeah, visit important Holocaust memorials and learn more about the Cold War. 
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This memorial was a highlight of the trip because it was so well done. You actually go underground to walk through different exhibits. I would highly recommend this very moving memorial.
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On ground level, this is what the memorial looks like. It's right in the middle of business buildings, which actually reminded me a bit of the 9/11 Memorial in New York.
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This marks the entrance of the exhibits underneath the memorial. It gave me chills just reading it, but it's such an important and relevant message today.
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Berlin does a great job of having informative exhibits right outside so you don't have to go into a museum all the time. In fact, Checkpoint Charlie was actually right outside our hotel.
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This is one segment of the Berlin Wall that stuck out to me. Something that I learned on this trip is that it's a good thing I'm not a history teacher because I barely know anything about the Cold War!
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If you love graffiti art, then Berlin is your city. I actually liked this one, and yes, it did make me stop and smile.
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You have to try currywurst in Berlin. It's their thing! Think of curry flavored ketchup and you've got yourself currywurst. It's better than it sounds, unless you don't like curry.
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I pretty much always find a way to get handmade truffle pasta when I'm in Europe. It just happens. This is from Mani in Pasta at Market Hall Nine.
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Fassbender & Rausch is an upscale chocolatier in Germany, so of course I had to visit one of their stores. They're known for making huge chocolate sculptures, such as this one of Brandenburg Gate.
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There is a cafe upstairs. Did I need another reason to go other than its existence? The Fassbender & Rausch cafe had great holiday ambiance, and everything we had was amazing. Do you see that small cup of hot chocolate on the left? It was pretty much decadent melted dark chocolate. Amazing.
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Prague

3/19/2017

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We didn't set out to visit the Czech Republic, but Prague was listed on many traveling sites as an "it" city that didn't shut down for Christmas, so Prague it was! I'm so glad we went because other than Annecy in France, Prague was my favorite city on this trip. Why? I'll show you...
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Postcard worthy views during a walk through Petrin Hill.
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If you love old European architecture, then you'll love wandering the cobblestone streets of Prague. There is so much history everywhere you go!
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In my opinion, St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague Castle is best seen at night to experience its Gothic architecture.
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Um...who knew Prague has amaaazing hot chocolate? There is a reason why they sell hot chocolate in such small sizes; it's super rich and decadent! In fact, some places will give you a spoon because it's so deliciously thick.
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If you love duck, then Eastern Europe has you covered because it's fairly common. I kept reading about bread dumplings before I went, and I was excited to try them. Think of a doughy dinner roll and you've got yourself some bread dumplings. Not a fan.
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What can I say? I love duck!
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This beet & goat cheese appetizer looks pretty fancy, right? Guess what? We ate at Santini Garden on Christmas night and our whole meal was about $30!
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Just in case you missed it, Prague has great chocolate! Chocolate bark with raspberries, rose petals, and gold flakes? Yes, please!
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In my defense, I had NO idea there was a chocolate shop next to our hotel.
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This was the street from right outside Hotel Neruda. Seriously, how cute are the buildings?!
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I loved how our hotel room had big windows where I could sit, drink tea, and people watch. Prague really is a lovely city with so much old world charm and history. Besides, I hear they have really good chocolate ;)
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Vienna

1/22/2017

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I always wish for a little bit of snow when we go to Europe for Christmas because it just adds to the magic of a European Christmas. We got the perfect amount of snow, which is a light dusting that covers everything as if you're in a snow globe, but you're able to still go outside and do things. 
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This is one of the larger Christmas markets outside of Vienna's city hall.
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Rathaus (City Hall) from afar. Even the government buildings look nice!
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Inside Schonbrunn Gardens, which is the former imperial summer residence because how could you only have one mansion if you're a true royal? You must have seasonal mansions, duh!
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Inside a random park that we happened to come across. It's so pretty with the snow!
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This made me laugh because you actually get a discount if you bring a dog on the metro in Vienna!
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I love duck and pretty much get it everywhere I go in Europe. This entree came with chestnuts, pasta, and brussels sprouts.
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Did I mention that I like duck?
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Of course we had to try schnitzel, but fried meat isn't really my thing.
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Now dessert is more of my thing! We had to try the apple strudel and Sacher torte in Vienna. The apple strudel had nice tart pieces of apple in it, and the torte was really just chocolate cake. Both were okay, but I didn't finish them, which should tell you something.
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Happy 2017!

1/16/2017

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Let's play a word association game. When I say Christmas, I think of Europe, Europe, and oh, Europe. We were in Europe last Christmas, so it only makes sense to end 2016 by being in Europe, right? This time we went to Dublin, Lyon, Geneva, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin over two weeks. Yes, we did TripAdvisor's recommended activities, but you can Google those yourself. I wanted to share some highlights from some of the cities we went to that I particularly enjoyed (i.e. food, food, food, some sights, and more food). To save your fingers from scrolling overkill, I'll break these posts into several parts. I'll start with my favorite...

Lyon & Annecy 

 Ahhh...France. I've been lucky enough to have been to France three times now, and each time I love it more. For anyone who has fallen in love with a country and gone back, you'll probably be able to relate to being excited and a bit nervous as you wonder if you'll still love the country just as much each time you go back.

Lyon is often compared to Paris, and it is known for its gastronomy. It also has its own Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere and an ancient Roman amphitheater. 
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Lyon's Roman amphitheater happens to be France's oldest Roman theater. It is situated by Notre Dame and it's free!
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The inside of the Basilica of Notre Dame is much brighter than the one in Paris. The gold murals are even prettier in person.
Annecy is a picturesque town that has been coined "the Venice of France." It definitely feels like Venice...well, the Venice I know from magazines and travel blogs anyway since I haven't been yet. Annecy is so quaint and a great day-trip option if you're in Lyon!
PictureJust a usual weekday in Annecy doing some grocery shopping.

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Beautifully fresh produce
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Lake Annecy has incredibly clear water for a lake and the beautiful Alps as its backdrop.
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Do you see how thick this hot chocolate is? Dip the flaky chocolate croissant into the dark hot chocolate...heaven!
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Lyonnaise potatoes (a.k.a. potatoes au gratin). I wanted to dive into this over and over again on a cold winter day.
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Quenelles are a Lyon specialty. It's a dumpling usually made of fish, but it doesn't taste fishy. The sauce was very rich and perfect for baguette dipping.
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These are my kind of greeting cards because they're made of edible chocolate! Take that Hallmark.
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Baby Landon

7/10/2016

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I feel like I've been saying this a lot as more of my friends become parents, but where does the time go? I've known Landon's dad, Chris, since he was 18! He was literally one of the first people I met the first week of college, and we've shared a lot of laughs over the years.

Landon is one lucky guy to have Chris and Nicole as his parents, and as you can already see, he is being groomed to be a Disneyphile...like father, like son!
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Baby Maverick

6/5/2016

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Baby Maverick's parents, Emilee and Kyle, are fellow teachers  so it was especially cool doing this session with them. You know Maverick won't be able to get away with much having two parents as teachers, but he'll be one smart cookie! I had a lot of fun talking to Emilee about being a first time parent, and I'm totally jealous that she's home with this cute lil' guy while we're still in school!
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I don't wanna, I don't wanna, I don't wanna take another picture! If I could get up from this silly basket, I would. #firstworldbabyprobs
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