what to visit in Malaga

The Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) said somewhere that what motivated his unforgettable paintings and sculptures, that are still considered some of the most outstanding works of art of the first half of the 20th century, was the personal aim of attacking, of feeding off, of defending one self, of being as big as possible, of living his own adventure, of taking part in his own war.

Everything that has to be known about the way that Giacometti felt art and his condition as an artist seems to be contained in these words, that total, absolute, fatal and unavoidable commitment to a cause that permeated him. However, his aspect was distant and elegant, like that of a serious existentialist with an irresistible romantic aura.

This aspect was immortalized in a series of memorable photographs made by masters such as Irving Penn, Man Ray or Richard Avedon which now can be seen until the 5th of February as part of this excellent exhibition of over 200 works. For this exhibition they have followed a chronological order, the first retrospective made in Spain for over 20 years has been dedicated to him by the Picasso Museum in Málaga (http://www2.museopicassomalaga.org/03_1frameset.htm).

Despite being twenty years older than Giacometti, Pablo Picasso was much more than an important personal friend of his. Their worlds and preoccupations converged in many points that the exhibition explores, establishing a fruitful dialogue between them both.

Everything began on that far away day in 1932, when Giacometti was deeply moved, and even transformed, by the exhibition of the Spanish artist in Zurich. With the impressions that he then received, he frenetically filled a notebook, a notebook that’s exhibited for the first time to the public in the exhibition in Málaga.

Needless to say, however, that the Giacometti’s reach encompasses a lot more distance than the shadow that Picasso lay upon him, surrealism (group in which he militated enthusiastically from the end of the 1920s thanks to his friendship with André Masson and Jean Cocteau, an attachment that has as its prime witness the unsettling beauty of works as suggestive as ‘Reclined woman who dreams unpleasant objects’) or the rest avant-gardes movements to which he was linked with.

Giacometti was able to recreate, above all, his own aesthetic language that was tremendously full of meaning and whose maximum exponent are those sculptures of beings with unconceivable thinness, of extreme lightness, whose apparent fragility and desolation give the feeling of being enhanced in some way by the solid bases that they generally rest on, thus creating new spacial relations that are noticeably different to the monumental quality of traditional sculpture that would have to have an inevitable influence on contemporary art.

Paul Oilzum

The exhibition at the Picasso Museum presents a brilliant and astounding staging that allows it to be seen in the shape of some sort of metallic forest, an imitation of their original position in Giacometti’s legendary workshop in Montparnasse. Lose yourself there if you rent apartments in Malaga

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Although on a tight budget, the XXIX edition of the Málaga Theatre Festival is ready to start and transform the city into the biggest stage in Spain. From January 13 to February 11, 2012, scenic art lovers will have another opportunity to visit the birthplace of Picasso.

Headquarters of the museum dedicated to the grand painter – Picasso – who was born here, this great little town in southern Spain (Andalusia) has a well-known festival coinciding sometimes with Carnival. Well known is also its theatrical tradition that has given many men and women to theater, that were born on this land.

Like every year, the show takes place between the Cervantes Theatre and Echegaray. Four major works are represented in premiere: Dream Casanova, directed by Chema Cardenas,  Angel Suicide (Aurora Mateos) Crack! The region of tears (Peter Spear) and The Ring of the Dove (Irene Aivar).

For the inauguration, the public can admire one of the best known works of William Shakespeare, Macbeth, whose management is entrusted to the National Classical Theatre Company.

Helena Pimenta will present the opening of the festival.

But this festival has many other strengths: the Cirque Style, which presents the show Balagan (l’art comedy and street artists), the work of the playwriter Fernando Arrabal, entitled The Garden of Earthly Delights and many others can be discovered on the road to Malaga.

The festival takes place in one of the most beautiful small towns in Andalusia, where the climate is favorable throughout the year, where it is presented as a mixture of classical drama and the typical Malaga style. In the event – which features around 13 performances with 4 premieres and many other activities – involves many international companies as well as local ones also

In addition, throughout the time of the festival in the city staged readings and lectures will completely transform the city for a whole month  Among the initiatives that encourage participation in the festival and its cultural importance,  there is a 20 percent discount for purchases of tickets, which can be obtained now on the Internet. Prices range from 7 to 42 euros , according to the type of show.

In this same period – from the 22nd of  January until the 19th of  February – Malaga comes alive with its carnival and street celebrations, costumes, contest of copies, which will end up with the classic piñata on Sunday and the traditional  “burial of the anchovy”. Certainly a double reason to visit this fascinating city in the south coast of Spain.

To download the programming of the XXIX Málaga Theatre Festival visit: http://www.teatrocervantes.com/public/uploads/file/descargas/86pro_FTM_12.pdf

Paola Grieco

If you love the South of Spain, theater is the engine of your trip and the movement of the street during Carnival fascinates you, book apartments in Malaga and let the party begin!

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Translated by: Marc
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Already in the first lines of the prologue in his remarkable book The Greeks, the British historian Humphrey Davey Findley Kitto ponders upon the undeniable importance of the Hellenic culture of antiquity, creating an entirely new conception of what the human life must be that concerned both social life and the function of the spirit and the intelligence in its formation and development of Western societies. While the ancient Greeks were not a overly large population nor particularly feared for their power, neither they were exemplary organized, through a long and intense civilized process they were able to create a culture, a worldview and way of life, copied in their on particular way for centuries by the Roman Empire, and which  constitutes the strongest foundation of what we call Western culture.

This is one reason why the current efforts of the European Union are so obscene by mortgaging the future of the country with bailouts involving abusive salvations that are almost a new kind of slavery that also condemns their economic growth for decades. Banks of the governments of the international community have been able to donate for free in the last three years as an exorbitant amount of money (17 billion dollars), which according to the Alternative Nobel Prize in Economics Mandred Max, such amount of money would serve to eliminate hunger for the next 600 years. However, for Greece, where they developed Western logical thought (According to Godard that has suggested that every time someone used a “therefore” or some equivalent formula he would have to charge a fee, because if we collect debts we may have to be considering charging everyone for the debt we owe the Greek for culture is immeasurable) is not willing to make any concession on the grounds that it might be a bad example for other countries where apparently payment is for the most disadvantaged sectors of society, the speculative debts of banks and the use of such circumstance to dismantle the welfare state will introduce the privatization of basic social services.

Among our many debts to the Greek culture is, of course, the celebration of events like the Olympic Games and the Marathon races, which commemorates the transcendental first battle of the Medicas Persian Wars, a first major defeat against the Greeks (Athenians in this case) which occurred in 490 BC C. and marked decisively the political direction of one of the most outstanding and seminal centuries throughout Western history.

The Marathon of Malaga, which will take place on December 6 http://www.malagadeporteyeventos.com/eventos/proximamente/503-maraton-ciudad-de-malaga is one of the many races in cities around the world that, somehow remembering the event, invite people to become owners of the city for a day in a spirit of harmony, fun and peace

Paul Oilzum

Open to any adult who wants to participate, as you will see if you rent apartments in Malaga its an extraordinary opportunity to get some exercise (not necessary at all to complete the 42 kilometers of the test), meet people and enjoy in an original way this beautiful city.

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Translated by: Marc
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Parallel to the commitment of the city of Málaga to be a reference regarding the artistic scene (with important exhibition in the Picasso Museum, in the Contemporary Art Centre or at the Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza), it’s also making an effort to big up the two performing stages in the capital. While the old Echegaray cinema, reconverted into a theatre, is reserved for concerts (it’s, for example, the stage of the International Málaga Jazz Festival, which this year is celebrating 25 years), the Teatro Cervantes has a varied and changing programme which is hard to follow.

Behind the immaculate white façade of this Neoclassic building, a cultural reference of the city, all types of shows are performed without giving the spectator any time to breathe, both theatre plays as music of all types. Along these lines they insert ’Flamenco, perdura en el tiempo’ (Flamenco, endures through time), which tries to offer the local and foreign fans of this genre who come to this city, the singular vision of this extreme form of music. The dance of a very young Antonio de Verónica, accompanied by the Sánchez-Cortés Company, with or without ‘duende’, will delight the crowd on the 5th of November from 7pm.

But the artists don’t stay for long at the Cervantes, and not because its shows aren’t good but because the ones who manage Málaga’s stage scene par excellence have embarked in a variety which can take the breath away from more than one. The programme lasts only a few days, enough time so that a new play or a recital substitutes the outgoing artist for an incoming one for a couple of days. Without doubt, one of the strong points of this autumn of music in Málaga is the presentation on the 15th and 16th of November of the latest work of Pasión Vega, Ana María Alias Vega, which is her real name according to her ID.

This sixth album of this young and popular singer, entitled ‘Sin Compasión’ (Without compassion), brings thirteen new tracks to her repertoire. Recorded in a studio, disparate artists have intervened in it, such as Manuel Carrasco or Pedro Guerra. Both concerts (which should be identical), will conjure this album which has just been released on the streets with her classic songs. An undisputed queen of this genre, Pasión Vega will drag her die-hard fans to the Cervantes in Málaga with songs which will have melancholy, pain and tears as protagonists. Therefore, and because it’s been five years since she last released an album, the flamenco evening has high expectations. She will be accompanied by the musicians Jacob Sureda on the piano, Vicente Climent on the drums, Paco Rivas on guitar, José Vera on the bass and Roberto Jabonero on the violin and mandolin. Here is, as always, the link to the show (http://www.teatrocervantes.com/es/genero/musica/ciclo/77/espectaculo/1069) where there’s all the detailed information. Málaga is becoming an unmissable cultural destination in Southern Europe with an artistic, musical and theatre programme which is truly amazing. The Teatro Cervantes is part of all of this and it’s varied programme includes first class artists such as Pasión Vega.

Candela Vizcaíno

If you visit this Mediterranean city to enjoy these events, there are also plenty of apartments in Malaga where to stay, something fundamental for any self-respected traveller. We’ll wait for you here for your thoughts.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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One of the most controversial Irish artists, who possesses one of the most powerful and beautiful voices, Sinéad O’Connor, is on tour paving the way for the release of her next album, ‘Home’, which still doesn’t have a release date, although we know it will be in 2012. For this, she’s prepared a tour with her greatest hits and the new songs on the album.

The career of Sinéad officially started when she released her debut album in 1987, ‘The Lion and the Cobra’, an album which got her a nomination for the Grammy Awards. In 1989 she released her second album, with which she became world famous with the song ‘Nothing compares 2 U’, which got to number one in the charts all over the world, with a video which made her angel face famous.

After these first two albums, Sinéad collaborated with various artists, both in recordings and in live concerts, and she took part in humanitarian causes until, in 1990, she broke a photo pf the Pope John Paul II on the programme ‘Saturday Night Live’, and it took her career to the edge of the abyss due to her strong statements. If one dedicated himself to investigate the life of the artist, they could understand better her continuous changes of religion and conflicts, but to my understanding it’s not something necessary when you have so much musical talent, which is the important thing in this case.

The tour starts in November, and will arrive in Málaga on the 13th of the same month. The concert will be in the Teatro de la Diputación at 8pm, and she will be accompanied by the excellent Portuguese artist Lula Pena, one of the most beautiful and most special voices in Portugal, which gives it an added reason to not miss this show with two beautiful female voices on a beautiful night in the gorgeous city of Málaga.

For more information visit: http://www.nvivo.es/conciertos/Sin%C3%A9ad+O%27Connor-M%C3%A1laga

Luz Obscura

Rent apartments in Malaga and be part of a magical evening with two magical artists, Sinéad O’Connor, who will present the new songs of her latest album ‘Home’, and Lula Pena, one of the most beautiful voices in Portugal.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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The Echegaray, in the heart of Málaga, opened as a cinema just as soon as movies started incorporating sound. Behind its  fake neoclassical facade with a elegant touch of decadence three hundred seats were available for all cinema lovers at that time (we are talking about the 30′s of the twentieth century). Forgotten during the eighties due the progress of small unpersonalized movie treater in malls, the abandonment of the building was such that it even threatened to collapse, such was its undoing. After a successful rehabilitation, it has adapted to a new cultural usage much more in touch with the new times and now the Echegaray, is just second behind the Teatro Cervantes, Malaga’s first scenographic space, as it is smaller, and especially reserved but not exclusively, for concerts.

While music is the highlight of Echegaray, and that it has given new life to the  gathering of  a large music-loving fan community , the promoters do not forget other events (such as theater or puppetering).  That said we can not forget that it is the official venue for Malaga’s Jazz Festival which this year celebrates its silver jubilee and is held between the 7th and 12th of November.

Well, in this musical salad in which we find every musical style (flamenco, local pop-rock, jazz, blues and classical), and with everything in its proper order, the venue opened a new season on Sept. 29 with a concert by Cockroach Dandy who presented their new second album entitled More difficult where in their lyrics, ironically, make special reference to the current socio-economic circumstances. Until the end of December musical artists of diverse backgrounds (although priority is given to the people of Malaga) will play on the stage in this cycle at Echegaray with  one concert a day. So, out of bare necessity, I include this link http://www.teatroechegaray.com/es/espectaculos/musica/ciclo/on-echegaray-11-12

which provides detailed information about the shows, performers, times and even online ticket sales. Although, initially, Echegaray programming included concerts until December 1st, to date, there are scheduled performances until December 29th, 2011 and hopefully the cycle will continue during 2012.

To round off the year, two days before New Year’s Eve, that night Echegaray presents Great Blues  “Tribute to “Route 66″, a tribute by local artists to Malaga’s legendary blues musical joint of mythical name located in Fuengirola, who brings veteran names like Lito Blues Band Blues Richard Ray Farrell and along with new promises of today, with their particular niche in the contemporary music scene, such as the case of Mama Kim.

Candela Vizcaíno

The traveler knows that Malaga is much more than just beaches and sun. In recent years the city is making an important commitment to cultural programming through music in all areas from visual arts to stage ones . It is best to have reserved apartments in Malaga the capital and save a few days to savor it slowly.

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Translated by: Marc
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It’s curious and meaningful up to a certain point that the latest album of the popular band Amaral has as its title ‘Hacia lo salvaje’ (‘Into the wild’), biased and nearly literal translation from the name of the first film directed by Sean Penn (in 2002, the song which made them achieve success was a ballad whose title copied literally into Spanish the extraordinary song by Placebo which titled their magnificent second album).

Just like Penn’s film ‘Into the Wild’, like it’s characteristic in Amaral’s work, who will present the album at the Sala París 15 in Málaga on the upcoming 29th of October (http://www.paris15.es), the band from Zaragoza living in Madrid, seems to stay once more in the middle of nowhere and not going anywhere, at least nowhere we know, except from the usual and helping references here and there of certain supposedly counter-cultural referents, moderately rough, stormy or wild.

Despite their truly distressing ending – nothing in the work of Amaral hurts, however the attempted tearing in some of their songs, not even one twentieth part of it – Penn’s film, notable in more than one aspect, suffered from a similar uncertainty to the one that, for a certain amount of critics, the Spanish band has, a certain attempt (naturally condemned to failure from the beginning) of trying to please everyone. We assume that they don’t care about it very much. At the end of the day, in the last decade, Amaral haven’t just managed to consolidate themselves as one of the most popular bands of the Spanish musical scene, but also being treated with probable excessive respect and deference by a type of press that, usually insulting the intelligence of their audience, doesn’t have a problem of playing the card of reducing music (and culture) supposedly independent or copyrighted music, excuse the anachronism and it should be understood in a strictly analogical way, to the most disgusting and unsubstantial media circus which benefits the omnipresent society of spectacle.

Despite that they will never have any type of consideration from the true snobs and dandies of music and art, and although they might not be the entertaining talkers, the brightest of minds or the best speakers (they don’t need it either), Amaral are, undoubtedly, professional and competent musicians, probably made into a product despite their reluctance and without knowing, and authors of catchy tunes which have managed to become generational anthems, which is enough to make their concerts sociologically relevant events. Nothing in their work seems to belong to them, nothing seems genuinely theirs (arrangements which we already know of, or nearly know of, hats which we’ve already seen, or nearly seen, clothes that we’ve also seen, or nearly seen…) but the amalgam works and it probably reveals a genuine fetishist love (both seem to intensely love music and who would be able to love in a way that wasn’t erratic in some way) for certain regions of the pop and rock world which contribute to give value and credibility to their live performance.

Paul Oilzum

If you rent apartments in Malaga around those dates, you might want to come to Sala París 15 and check out the show for yourself, soaking up the atmosphere of one of the most modern places in this city.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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The church is built in an Elizabethan Gothic style and it also contains a delightful altarpiece Plateresco which was originally established at Iglesia del Sagrario in 1944. The church is rectangular in shape with engravings of different structures and religious paintings on the entire building. The baroque interior with a single nave similar to other Italian churches is a characteristic of this monument. One of the other traits present here is the adoption of Isabelline Gothic style from Catholic monarch period.  The paintings and art works present inside are historical treasures of the first order and are the most eulogized ones as far as the famous churches are concerned.

Due to continuous wear and tear, the church was completely tarnished and demolished, got therefore renovated again after several years in the 18th century after several postpones. Its staircase which is believed to be demolished for Elizabeth II, was built again in a more deluxe and luxurious way giving it a marvelous look.

The church is very common among the local folks of Spain and it is the hub for wedding and other religious celebrations. It is noticed in the previous years that the church is even more visited by the people than the holy Cathedral situated just next to it. The church is full with precious works of art and at the same time it is internally decorated with arches and a barrel vault which reminds about their golden days.

The most important paintings that can be found in the church include those of The Salvador, The Virgin and various others with two holy apostles and bishops. A sense of quiet stillness can be experienced inside the church which is extremely delightful and provides a kind of inner satisfaction and happiness which soothes our soul. The church is full of altarpieces of renowned architects and is a good example of sculptural engineering that prevailed several years back. The church also contains the precious altarpiece of San José of the 18^th century which is very carefully decorated and designed with the spiral columns and pilasters.

The church is of utmost importance for professional tourists as well as local worshippers as there are so many things and works to be noticed here. And the most vital part is that this church does not lag behind as far as the infrastructure and its design is concerned.

Address:

The church of Santa María del Sagrario

C / Santa María, 22
Malaga – 29 015

Phone: (+34) 952 211 935

John

Although this Cathedral is the largest church in Spain which is located near to this church, but in some parts of the year this church registers even more visits than Cathedral. This explains the popularity and the importance of this church. Rent apartments in Malaga for going to this marvelous place.

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A must-see for art and drama lovers, this comfortable and attractive 19^th century theatre is located in a central square a few minutes from Malaga’s main shopping area, surrounded by busy streets full of shops, cafes and tapas bars.

It was built after Malaga’s main theatre was destroyed in a fire. The project was entrusted to architect Jeronimo Cuervo, while the Valencian painter, Bernardo Ferrandiz, was responsible for painting the curtain, a self-portrait inspired by the figure of Mephistopheles, as well as the ceiling, which is an allegory of the city.

The theatre, with its large stage and room for 2,400 people, opened its doors in December 1870 with the opera William Tell. Soon after this it was officially declared a Historic Artistic Site. Over the years it suffered periods of great neglect and abandonment that left it almost in ruins at times. In 1950 it was transformed into a cinema and underwent various modifications that seriously altered the building’s design and architecture.

It wasn’t until the 80′s, after its acquisition by the city council, that it began to regain all its glory. The theatre was restored and reopened in 1987 with a concert by La Orquesta Sinfónica de la Ciudad de Málaga (the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Malaga), and since then has had a varied and interesting programme, including performances of classical music, jazz, pop, world music, modern dance, opera and ballet. It also plays host to the annual film festival in the city.

With its large curtains and carpeted floors, its ushers and bars on each floor, and the freshly-roasted almond sellers, visitors will have the feeling of having made a trip back in time. For those who wish to complete the evening with a fine meal, there are many reasonably-priced restaurants in the surrounding area.

The new season will begin on September 16, with the cycle of classical music, Espejos Literarios, (Literary Mirrors), dedicated to the figures of Mahler and Nietzsche. The month concludes with a performance by The Choir of Saint-Marc and the play, La Avería. For more information about scheduling and ticket sales, you can visit the theatre’s website: http://www.teatrocervantes.com

Elena Alvarez

A day spent shopping, followed by some tapas and then, to top it all off, a trip to the theatre. Malaga offers all this and more. What better way to enjoy the city than renting apartments in Malaga there?

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Translated by: Ben Palmer
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After the positive reception in last year’s edition, the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones of Torremolinos holds the second edition of Expogays in the only place where public entities and businesses who are gay-friendly will come together in their wish of being present in the gay market.

On the 14th, 15th and 16th of October, the 2nd International Gay Business and Tourism Fair will open its doors to visitors and exhibitors from all over the world which, like last year, will serve as a meeting point for LGBT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transexuals) tourism and businesses, which will boost the economic sectors where this collective is present.

And so, from 11am all day long, 200 stands will offer a great variety of products and services related with hotels, restaurants, wineries, health, beauty, decoration, jewelry, eroticism, leisure, tourism, saunas, alternative medicine and a very long etcetera. Therefore it’s the best showroom to promote products and services, and the ideal place to carry out commercial relations. Also, the visitors of Expogays will be able to enjoy special promotions.

The entertainment is also guaranteed at Expogays. Inside the programme of events, the starting gun will be given by Spanish folkroric singer Isabel Pantoja, who will be the godmother of this new edition, with a concert in the gardens of the palace; Gayvision, the song festival, is also back, which will have a representation from every autonomous community in Spain; the ones who like to dance will have their space in the Spanish Championship of Gay Dancing, where they will compete with same-sex couples; The International Gay Film Festival of the Costa del Sol will screen the nine best LGBT themed movies; the fans of chess will be able to show their ability in the European Gay Chess Championship.

On the early hours of Saturday night, from midnight until 7am on Sunday morning, the Special Pride Night will take place, an electronic music party organized by SunCoast Festival, where the best DJs of today will participate. All of this and much more will take place at Expogays.

The entrance to the fair and all of these events, except the Isabel Pantoja concert, are completely free. Also, in the palace gardens, the attendants will be able to relax and take advantage of sampling the numerous dishes that are offered in the restaurant area.

Because of all of this, the International Gay Business and Tourism Fair isn’t just one of the most important ones on a national and international level, but it can boast about being the only one directed towards the LGBT contingent. This year, it will attempt to surpass the 15,000 visitor mark which it had last year.

Numerous media have been accredited, among them the English channel BBC Manchester, who will dedicate a space in their programme to the fair. And that’s because Manchester was awarded best ‘Gayfriendly Destination 2011′. Also, the radio station Gaydio will broadcast live all that’s going on in the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Torremolinos.

More information: 902 100 672. info@expogays.com

http://expogays.reservasgays.com/secciones/portada

DEW DROPS

If you’d thought about going to Torremolinos (Málaga) for a few days and you feel like spending a full day there, come to Expogays. But, before, remember to rent apartments in Malaga

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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