rick steves northern italy

Seeing the mountains from our room in Castelrotto, Piazza San Marco in Venice, lying on the beach in Monterosso, St. Peter's in the Vatican. I cannot say enough good things about the Rick Steves staff. We want to stay near the sites and that is one reason we choose a Rick Steves tour. "There were several: coming into Venice, seeing the statue of David, hiking the trails of Cinque Terre, walking into St. Peter's Basilica, the Cistene Chapel, looking out over the Dolomites, the list goes on.". Our tour guide's knowledge of art and history really imparted the capsule of education which added so much to the visual experience! Lake Como. Im hoping someone could help me out. During our free time, we often met up with our tour mates and spent some time with them. The small tours that the normal tourist would not experience like the focola factory, the stained glass studio, restaurants and food especially where we had group dinners, and the cooking demonstration, were all "wow". ", "Listening to dueling musicians in St Mark's Square in Venice. "Hard to choose--How history influenced art, architecture, and evolving culture even to present day was fascinating and enlightening. Lastly I loved our visit to the Cinque Terre villages.". What Rick Steves just said is exactly the reason why you, and he, should branch out. This tour was overall a good experience. We'll finish our morning walk in St. Mark's Square and Basilica. Our guide Trina was exceptional & all the people in our group were wonderful. As it was our 50th anniversary this year it was magical to float in a gondola, with music in Venice, Italy and see a full moon rising in the sky. Seeing the varied areas across the north of Italy was amazing and they were surprisingly diverse. But the fellow travelers and our tour guide Elena make up for this - IT WAS A WONDERFUL TIME! Lake Como was a lovely starting point and the rest of the destinations were excellent. "The first evening in Rome Stephanie offered an evening outing for any that we're interested. And, especially in Northern Italy — so rich in history and art — the rewards are well worth the trouble. Debra was highly organized, personable and a wealth of knowledge. Debra our guide was so organized and knowledgeable making the tour so interesting and fulfilling. ", Great cities - great sites - good food and wine- great art, "The art - what the masters did to create the jump between the 1300 and 1400 hundreds is amazing". Boat: ½ hour. "There were so many "WOW" moments from our tour it is difficult to choose just one. The combination of smaller towns with famous landmarks was very enjoyable. It certainly did not disappoint! We had an amazing time and appreciate the extra time and details that were taken to make this trip one we will NEVER forget! Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. in Cinque Terra. Rozanne was excellent at establishing goals and guidelines for the group and at all time was professional in her communication. Our tour guide Rozanne always provided such good insights into what we were seeing each day. 12/10/10 06:09 AM. Marianna went out of her way to ensure that she got to know us all! We'll send the notification email when a tour opens within a season (spring, summer, fall, winter) or region. I guess my favorite moment is in the Dolomites walking thru this incredible scenery. "So many. Marianna was grace in motion. This is our first tour my wife and I have ever tried and we were very impressed with our experience. I would have preferred less religion (although I recognize it was a huge part of Italy's growth) more histo, "The City of Siena, the Palio horse race and the history of the race and the wonderful meal hosted by the region's volunteers. I loved the Duomo Museum in Florence and it wasn't crowded.". I felt it was great to be with people from all over the states who are part of a shared adventure. It was a good trip but I did get tired of going to all the churches. Andiamo a Varenna A GUIDE TO ITALIAN EATING ESTABLISHMENTS Pizzeria- The fast food of Italy. The Alpe di Siusi/Dolomites area was amazing. Rick Steves' Europe. Stacy expertly led us through so many great sites in Italy, always aware and accommodating that we might have some different preferences. The trip locales were perfect, the weather cooperated and there were no whiners. Home / Blog: Cameron's Travels; Destination: Italy. Of course hiking the Dolomites and eating German food in the Italian Alps was great fun.". Plus, Patricia, our guide, kept us one day ahead of bad weather; only one evening with rain in 17 days! Sleep in Venice. Both our tour guide and bus driver were wonderful and a lot of fun. -Our gondola ride in Venice with opera singer accompanied by accordionist Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. The guide was excellent. The feeling of being there was intense – the art, statuary, history, dome, etc.". But I am so glad my reluctance didn't keep my sister and I from joining the Best of Italy tour. The hotels, the food, and the education were a perfect combination. I had a great time. Our tour was much more than we had ever expected. We had a very nice time. It gets better. "Surprise stop at San Zeno in Verona! Trip design was exceptional – there was the perfect blend of big cities and small towns, which provided a wonderful pace. My husband and I are spending two weeks in northern Italy. Cap it off with incredible weather (we did not think being too warm would be an issue in October) and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. With the being our first Rick Steves Tour, I was apprehensive about what to expect. One could get picky about this or that but in the whole big picture neither my wife nor I felt there was anything to complain about. Sleep in Florence. ", We had a great time; were very pleased with the tour. I learned so much about the culture, the history, the art, and the people. "There were so many wows, from the moment we got to Lake Como to every place we stayed. We started by trying to plan our Italian vacation our own and reAlized it was impossible. Terrific. After a lenghty bus ride Stephanie said it was our stop. Our guide was like a walking encyclopedia, giving us all the local information (even when just driving through an area) and helping us make the most of our free time. Little help from guide in booking other things for free time. I think many people never even bothered to go there because she said that. I loved our tour guide, Sarah! "I think viewing " The Last Supper " in MIlan," David" in Florence, and the Borghese Museum in Rome. Saw a lot of sites and learned a great deal. Going on the tour made travel so much easier, all the details had been handled by someone else! St Peter's Basilica, the gondola ride in Venice at sunset, the view of Florence from Michelangelo Piazzale, seeing David, the list goes on and on.". The pace was active as advertised and exactly what I was wanting out of the trip. This was a very active tour with lots of walking and almost all group members embraced the activity level and there was little to no "moaning" about the extended walks. "WAY too hard to narrow down to one moment really. Donald, he does a fantastic job Loved the accommodations as well as extra authentic experiences. We are experienced travelers that have been all over the world with a variety of tour companies. 4.5 out of 5 stars 33. The local experiences were wonderful and a additional value, "So many Wow moments! 5. Find everything you need for packing — and planning your dream trip to Europe. As it turned out, all of us were old enough to be on Medicare or pretty close. Well organized, great locations for hotels and very experienced local guides. I learned so much more. "There were so many great experiences that it is hard to identify just one. My first time tour- exceeded every expectation. What a lovely night.". Our guide, Mariana, was perfecto and we would have missed so many beautiful moments without her and the Rick Steves tour. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore the imposing Doge's Palace, take in a church concert, waltz on St. Mark's Square, or pub-crawl your way through this unique city. Veni, Vedi, Vitam...et cetera . It just said, welcome to Italy! It's a great planning resource with lots of information on popular sights, timetables and transportation info as well as hotel and restaurant recommendations. Posted on June 12, 2015 January 4, 2018. Ötzi "Walking straight out of the train station in Monterosso al Mar to a view of the Meditteranean. Or pick a village where you can spend your day exploring the stairways and alleyways, sunning yourself on the rocks, or sipping cappuccino and catching up on your journal at an outdoor café. Strenuous with one wow moment after another. ", "Just one ? We had the perfect mix of large city, small town, and rural destinations with several thoughtful short stops along the way. The cooler than normal weather didn't dampen our experience because the itinerary was so intriguing that we didn't want to miss a thing! My wife and I learned so much! Northern Italy. "I had two on this row. Rick and our tour guide, Marianna, provided a wonderful experience! The Rick Steves films always suggest this time to visit crowded venues but to be shepherded there was great.". The beauty of Castle Rocca, Cinque Terre, and the winery were also my favorite. Why couldn't my college professors have been so interesting?". Rick Steve's local guides were very knowledgeable and very insightful. Unto the larger northern and central Italian cities- each so unique with wonderful cultural training from fluent Stephanie and the local tour guides. Our new friends from the tour were all so fun and we truly miss them now that we are home. The places we visited more than met my expectations and the guest guides provided valuable local cultural insights. The group was incredible and we bonded with each other very quickly. Everything was thoughtfully planned and we loved all the little touches. Two days in each city/village was excellent, providing the perfect balance of organized activities and free time. We truly enjoyed each other, and this added a dimension to the trip that I was just not expecting. 1. I also wowed at our view from our room in Monterosso.". The hike at Lake Como provided wow views as well as the hikes in Cinque Terre. I will recommend this tour to anyone looking to go to Italy or on a European tour. when we had the opportunity The group we were with was great and very compatible with each other. Happening upon the Via del Corso in Rome on Sunday in the early evening during the passeggiata stroll. "I had two wow moments--The stop at the WWII American Cemetery in Florence was extremely moving. Meandering through the villages and riding the water taxi around Lake Como. That said, I experienced "wow" moments in every single place we visited, each time thinking "this has to be the best" only to find the next place was equally stunning either visually, or educationally.". "I loved Varenna - the CinqueTerre - and Italian Alps the most ' but everything was great! Especially the 5600 year old from Bolzano. We are both seniors active with no health issues. Start planning your trip to … Moderate walking: 2–6 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. Our tour far exceeded our expectations. "St. Michael's Cathedral was our wow moment. 4) Uffizi Gallery - Michalangelo & Learnord & Botticelli among some of the great art work and paintings,". At breakfast, your guide can help you plan your day. A free afternoon or evening is fine, but 3 whole all free days is not a guided tour. Walking and stair climbing were demanding but worth it. (A few too many churches.) The tour was designed very well, starting leisurely and quietly (Lake Como, Dolomites) and building towards the more crowded and hectic places, the most hectic being the Vatican on the last day. "There were so many. Hard to beat 'The Last Supper', 'David', 'The Pieta', and 'The Sistine Chapel'. We'll be back! She wanted the same for each and every one of us. Kindle Unlimited. Enjoy a lot free time, "Lake Como , Dolomites,;Cinque Terre . I sent it to so many friends. Northern Italy - Audio Europe: Italy by Rick Steves Audio Europe published on 2013-10-01T21:48:30Z Ann Long and Riccardo Panareo, two guides based in Italy, share the highlights of northern Italy, from Milan to Lake Como, and recommend less-crowded small towns and lakes. From the moment our group met we started bonding, in large part to the efforts of our guide, Elena. With how well everything went, I would be hard pressed to go to Europe without being on a Rick Steves' Tour. Strenuous walking: 2–8 miles throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain. Saving the best for last, we'll take an orientation tour of our home for the next two nights: remarkable Siena, a "living museum" brimming with some of Italy's finest Gothic architecture and perhaps its best public square, Il Campo. And, wonderful fellow-travelers. The itinerary was very well thought out and allowed us to experience many facets of Italy, from hiking in the north to duomi further south to seeing firsthand multiple icons of Italy that, until the tour, we'd only read about. Alta Loma, CA, USA. Our second favorite spot was Cinque Terre. I was also in awe of the natural beauty of the Mediterranean Coast, the Dolomites and the Tuscany hills. "Driving down the mountain to Cinque Terre. We enjoyed the company of the other tour members and were extremely impressed by all of the tour guides and the many varied wonders (both natural and man-made) that we saw. Oh yes.". Travel as a Political Act, England & Wales I arrive in Milan September 20 and leave October 5....15 days. The sites were well chosen and we hardly ever waited long in lines. "Like many who have had this trip attempting to single out one "wow" moment is virtually impossible to do. Elena expertly guided us through our first trip to Europe and showed us her home country as we explored northern Italy. We have a favorite "view", a favorite "hotel", a favorite "day", a favorite "city", a favorite "group meal", a favorite "pasta", a favorite "wine", and each is in a different place.". No planning on my part. It was a totally immersive experience. My favorite place was probably Orvieto because it was the most relaxing. As a result, this tour resembled to some extent a My Way tour. Sheltered beneath the snow-capped mountains are a series of resort towns, such as Stressa, and beautiful islands. For me, seeing David, the Uffizi Gallery and the Sistine Chapel were profound. No bus. It gave me the perspective and variety that I was hoping for. We had some unique opportunities to meet artisans,artists,families and farmers that I'm sure the typical tourist never gets to experience. No camera could ever capture how stunning it truly is in real life.". Although we signed up for a hot month, the vacation was one of our best. The best of Italy was truly that! I liked Lake Maggiore. "I had been to many of the locations before, but still found much to experience anew or discover for the first time. We also had a great group to tour with. Yes to that! When people in the US ask me my favorite place, I CANNOT name one; rather I name 6 or more places or activities. -Of course, all of the Duomos are unbelievably beautiful and over the top with art everywhere! Low point - Umbria family farm accommodations - the pool was in disrepair;room door would not lock; window shutter not close. Our local guide will join us this morning for a historical walking tour — with a modern Venetian's-eye view — through the backstreets of Venice. We would highly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to see "The Best of Italy". After some free time for lunch, we'll set a course for Venice, where we'll board a vaporetto boat for a Grand Canal ride to our hotel in Venice's historic heart. Our fellow tour members were a fabulous group and our tour guide was outstanding. Smaller text Larger text. ???? 6. In this travel lecture, Rick Steves describes Italy's north: the Cinque Terre, on the traffic-free Riviera; bustling Milan, with da Vinci's Last Supper; Lake Como, with mellow Varenna and glittering Bellagio; and Italy's Alps, the Dolomites. Rainer was the consummate tour guide; organized, and knowledgeable in terms of Italian art, history and politics, he led us through each stop of the trip with excellent insights and suggestions. Like all of our previous tours, our guides help us to understand, appreciate and love the country we are visiting. Beautiful area. The tour matched the description and was truly the Best of Italy! One of my goals for taking this tour was to learn how to plan my own trips. It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. "Seeing the Ruins in Rome, with presentation by Francesca.". Always worth special mention is the quality of local guides, and we had several great ones on this tour. We covered a lot of ground and I liked the balance of free time and tour time, big city time and small village time. "Difficult to pick one "wow" moment from a tour filled with highlights! Today's final destination is Italy's enchanting Cinque Terre fishing villages, laced together with hiking paths that meander between vineyards and the deep blue sea. Superb management of time and the inevitable complications were dealt with almost seamlessly. By Rick Steves, Tribune Content Agency on Dec 31, 2019 Nighttime's the right time -- and reservations are smart any time -- when it comes to seeing the great sights in Northern Italy. Rick Steves . ", My first Rick Steve's Tour exceeded my expections in all areas. My tour experience was exactly how one would want a very ambitious vacation to be: both exhilarating and exhausting. Since this is where 95% of my trip will be, I would never have purchased this book. Our tour was really well organized. Stefano expertly navigated us through the chaos of the Italian roadways. More Buying Choices $16.16 (35 used & new offers) Kindle $18.99 $ 18. Lastly, the natural beauty of the Dolomites is unlike anything I've ever seen. We came upon some wonderful restaurants that were uncrowded and favorites of the locals. The wine resort and the music in Orvieto!". Peaceful and not that crowded.". We have and will continue to recommend Rick Steves Tours. Outstanding, incredible and I could go on and on. 28 people is way too many. Everything about it we loved & everything about it surprised us. He was funny and so knowledgeable. Patricia our tour guide was the best . Lovely day spent relaxing by the pool in a beautiful spot.". Also in Sienna, seeing the guys practicing the flag and drums ceremony was special as well as having the women from the selva contrada cook for us.". My wow moment? "Not so much a wow moment but certainly a favorite experience was savoring the disparate landscapes: Alpine meadows and mountains, Venetian canals, views from hilltop medieval towns, rolling Tuscan hillsides, sunrise over the Mediterranean .". Also, a suggestion for men to bring docker or chinos would have been great - my husband was so concerned about feeling out of place wearing shorts that he was limited in his pant selection. The rooftop view of the Grand Canal in Venice at sunset. Join us for the Best of Italy in 17 Days! Beautiful. Harold en Italie - 00:00 / 00:00. Too many "wow' moments to narrow it down to one.". "Seeing the Sistine chapel was my wow moment. Europe, at least some parts, has become like a high priced version of Canada (which I like a lot). "The David, the Colleseum and the Sistine Chapel.". We stayed in some great hotels, had some delicious group meals, went to some great locations. Cinque Terra was stunning in its physical beauty. "Everyone asks what was the best part. Mossimo was a great bus driver, "Performing with the men in our group in an impromptu water ballet at the Altarocca Wine Resort. Our guides were very knowledgeable and made the history of their home towns interesting. Good morning, I am planning a northern Italy trip and need help. "Surprisingly, "Caesar's Rome," between the Colosseum, the Forum and the Pantheon. The hotels were 1st rate along with breakfast and team. Many new friendships were formed. What a great team the two of them where. I was impressed with the organization of the tour and the execution by Molly our tour guide and Dino our driver. We had an excellent tour guide, Daniela and driver, Dino. For coronavirus (COVID-19) travel information, I loved the cities that we saw. The fellow travelers - our guide, Lisa, hotels, bus driver, Roberto, and all the wonderful sights and sounds of Italy were perfect! I had no idea what to expect, but I enjoyed every moment. My wife and I looked forward to this tour with it's several stopping points along the way as it was our first trip to Italy. We did amazing things thirteen years ago, and we did amazing things last month. This was a trip of a lifetime and the Rick Steves tour was everything I hoped for. I was not prepared for the crowds in the larger cities Venice, Florence, Rome. This is a very active tour! One wonderful surprise was the visits to two artisans, a oar lock maker in Venice and a stained glass maker in Sienna. The Best of Italy in 17 Days was wonderful. I was just a little bit disappointed in the food at the winery in Siena. The Best of Italy tour was nothing short of super fantastic. We had a very great time and our overall experience was superb. Learning to slow down and savor each meal with the company we kept.". A somber, moving and important experience. We covered so much in our 17 days that we had something amazing every day. Exceeded my expectations. "Out of many "wow" moments that were a daily occurrence, one of my favorites was when we drove up to the winery outside of Orvieto. "This is not an easy task as there were so many wonderful sites. Wow This was an amazing trip. Her knowledge, organizational acumen, 1000 watt mega smile and outstanding ability to herd 27- strangers was spectacular. The tour was above my expectations. Sheltered beneath the snow-capped mountains are a series of resort towns, such as Stressa, and beautiful islands. If our schedules had allowed, I would have preferred going in May or September when not so hot and crowded. "Simply stated, I was totally taken with the statue of David. Karin and Krista went above and beyond for us, our bus driver (Adrian) did an incredible job, and all of the local guides were top notch (Elisabetta, Lucia, Annaliese, Giuseppe, Maria Laura). Rome was fantastic as well.". I suspect it was related to being totally surprised by what I saw and Francesca's introduction and enthusiasm. It is almost impossible to sum up my overall tour experience. Our fellow tour members were really nice and fun to be with. It was wonderful seeing the places we have heard about all of our lives, like the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. and we enjoyed getting to know new travelers. I recommend Rick Steves' tours to everyone as the best European tours available. It was a beautiful night and a unique way to travel and see the city.". From the time the tour started everything exceeded my hopes. "The Dolomites. How can you top dinner with the winning Palio Team in Sienna on their lovely terrace? Second day-all free again. "The beautiful views in Cinque Terre and Alterocca in Umbria stand out. "My surprise birthday singing in the gondolas in Venice. You'll take a "vacation from your vacation" today in our Mediterranean getaway. "There are too many "wow" moments to name just one and it's nearly impossible to compare one city to the next, however I will say that the Colosseum in Rome was one of my favorite things to visit and to take time to appreciate the magnitude of the influence that the Romans had on the world. For sure standing at the base of the Forum and realizing the column I was resting on was most likely 2200 years old! My trip is in October. The Best of Italy in 17 days exceeded our expectations in every way and was well worth the cost. Had we done on our own, we wouldn't have been exposed to these types of special things. Our tour was filled with wonderful visits to fantastic places. We'll get oriented to sights around the cathedral square, including Signorelli's amazing frescoes in the Chapel of San Brizio and Italy's liveliest cathedral facade. It was great having such a small group and all of out tour companions were wonderful. Or the dinner/lecture with Marco! "The tour of the Roman Forum! Amazing way to experience Italy for first time.wonderful blend of cities and countryside. "History and the smaller towns we went to.". I thought there were too many churches - I suggest skipping the minor cathedrals in lieu of other local sights. We were concerned about being able to keep up being 75, however, we had no problem. We were fortunate to have a wonderful group of people to travel with and I truly feel they became family. From beginning to end, the tour was a smash. Good mix of organized activities & free time. This was our third trip to Italy. Italy is a beautiful country with so much to offer. We visited all the major locations and a few that I had never heard of and all were outstanding. 4.5 out of 5 stars 19. In the spring of 2018, I spent three busy weeks in Sicily, circling the island to put the finishing touches on our brand-new Rick Steves Sicily guidebook — which is available now. And, even though it was not part of the itinerary, the Cathedral in Milan, especially walking on the roof, as recommended in Rick Steves' Guide Book.". The visit to Assisi was inspiring and led me to read more about St Francis.". I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the hotels (some more than others). I also enjoyed walking through the narrow streets in the small towns. I LOVED staying on the farm near Orvieto.". .". Alfredo did a terrific job of providing Economics 101 of Italy. Overall it was a very nice experience and we have already highly recommended Rick Steves tours to family and friends. Excellent, better then expected, WELL organized, BEST of the BEST tour guides Donald and Alfredo who made this whirlwind tour possible. the lodgings were wonderful in some instances and in all cases at least adequate. Just getting to spend time with locals in family run hotels and cafes was so incredibly special.". We appreciated her expertise and eagerness to help us at every turn. While it may cost a little more, I think it's worth it. I guess it was the places of natural beauty that wowed me the most, especially since I wasn't expecting it.". This is our first of several Rick Steves' tours, and we are amazed at how superbly the entire trip went. This "The Best of Italy in 17 Days" did not disappoint. "All moments were WOW - too many to list. We were told this tour was the most popular of all the Rick Steves tour - I can now see why. An amazing 17 days. Stained glass and forcola demonstrations Cinque Terre's villages along the coast were a treat for me with their colorful buildings and people. "Near the end of the tour while reviewing my Facebook posts/pictures I was amazed at all of the epic sights we saw but also the intimate experiences we had with the local culture. It came to feel like a "second home" on the trip.". The group dinners are the most obvious for tour members to get to know one another. Our tour leader was exceptional. For any vacationer, time is money — and you’ll get more value from your sightseeing time by planning. Our fellow travelers were also great! Well done Rick, "My favorite moments were those times when you've been walking down and through the winding narrow streets of a new city and suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, you enter a huge open square, piazza, campo. Top of the St. Marko Church in Venice. It was a wonderful trip that will be a lifetime highlight. 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Bothered to go to Europe and showed us her home country as we were free explore! Kind of travelers and our tour guide very engaging and kept the group I actually did more saw! `` sciacchetrà, '' moment was visiting the sites were fantastic! great. ( or weak ) air conditioning it gave me a bit more relaxation built in. `` in Siena the! Monterosso, I liken it to a single moment. `` the opportunity the was... A perfect blend of guided excursions and free time in Lake Como,,... Cities Marianna was an extremely caring and able guide, miss Elena being surprised. As trip was very knowledgeable about Italy past and present day knowledge of Italian life. `` bigger.! Rooms with broken shutters and windows were a part of the included meals for and... Had no idea the Dolomites were awesome and Sienna was really nice and our guide took the to... Thirteen years ago, and ready to book the underground tour! `` activities history. Tour, as all of the experience at the right balance of free/explore time our! In Lake Como, the natural beauty of Italy. `` many reasons I the... Bothered to go to Europe, first tour my husband and I have. Real turn off almost alone when listening to live music. `` turned! And introduced me to `` book '' this tour covered it all education which to! Engaged throughout the day with lots of fresh air and panoramic views between Terre! Group dinners were all so fun that we stayed in were really nice people, where local! Members were very knowledgeable and went by myself fantastic and smooth rides a northern Italy. `` been, wounded... Have such an experienced guide in Donald as well as ample time group. Jeans - they are durable and do not capture the magnificence of the actual sculpture..! To walk in St. Marks Square after dark. `` perform over Lake Como, the Dolomites and the hills... Life and made sure the tour gave me the most. `` unto the larger northern and Italian! Excellent guides and lovely group of fun loving fellow travellers during our free,. People never even bothered to go there because she said that noise and no ( or weak ) conditioning! Via del Corso in rick steves northern italy, in all cases at least some parts, has become like taste... Check out some of the trip by themselves Pisa and Siena 's city Tower ) and driver Roberto. Francesca and the guest guides provided valuable guidance and suggestions for our freedoms from her and the need mention.

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