 | Jean Pickard, CTC, DS
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Luxury Travel- specializing in France, Bhutan and other off-the-beaten path areas of the world
Expert Bio
From Timbuktu to the San Diego Zoo, Jean Pickard is as comfortable in a two-person pup tent on the Kenyan plains as she is in the Guv’nor’s Suite at The Stafford Hotel in London.
Her wanderlust has taken her all over the world, from the highlands of Papua New Guinea to the lowlands of Uganda, the glaciers of Patagonia to the volcanoes of Kamchatka…the more exotic the better for Jean. And she loves to share her sense of adventure and wonder by creating special journeys for each of her clients.
Jean has been a travel consultant for 28 years and earned her Certified Travel Counselor degree in 1984. She also holds a “Destination Specialist” for the Pacific Rim, Hawaii, Mediterranean Europe, Latin America, France and Caribbean. Jean has also been named by Conde Nast Traveler as one of the best Travel Consultants in America.
jean@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
The favorites:
ZAMBIA: Where else can you dangle your feet over the edge of the world’s largest waterfall; paddle a canoe alongside hippo and crocodile; and fish for one of most renowned game fish on the planet? Head to the end of the alphabet to find….Zambia. Located in south central Africa, you’ll feel like you’re at the end of the earth--pristine scenery, great animal viewing, and no crowds. At the end of the day, the accommodations make Mr. Stanley forget all about Dr. Livingstone. Add sunsets on the Zambezi and you’ve got the travel experience of a lifetime.
MADAGASCAR: When I told people I was going to Madagascar, some said, “Oh yeah. I saw the movie.” Well, I smiled and then, out of view, I laughed because c’mon, the movie was animated. And then I got there, to the world’s fourth largest island off the east coast of Africa, and son of a gun, it was just like the movie! Amazingly lush rainforest come right down to the edge of powdered sugar sand beaches, which slope gently to sparkling turquoise water. It isn’t too good to be true! And the lemurs…the lemurs, with their big eyes and their bushy tails, staring down at you from their treetop perches. The people are friendly and the cities are full of energy. Madagascar lived up to the movie and then went far beyond our expectations.
MAURITIUS: When your trip to Madagascar is over, you can go from beautiful beach…to beautiful beach, an hour and a half flight away on the island of Mauritius. You can keep your hiking shoes handy if you like, but why not get out the flip flops instead? Bring along that book you’ve been dying to read, because you’ll have a hard time finding the combination of relaxation and luxury you find on Mauritius. Some of the world’s top flight resorts are there with a level of service hard to match anywhere. Mauritius, mmm…delicious!
BHUTAN: Nicknamed the "Land of Dragons", Bhutan is a Himalayan kingdom which allows a limited number of tourists to visit each year. Consequently, the warm and welcoming Bhutanese are as curious about us as we are about them. Bhutan is a land of Tibetan Buddhism and joyous festivals with pristine mountains and untouched forests. It is a country that has taken a look at the rest of the world and decided that it likes itself just the way it is.
MONGOLIA and SIBERIA: The Land of the Great Genghis Khan and one of the most remote countries on earth, Mongolia is a land of the astounding Gobi Desert and the high Atlas Mountains. Home to wild ass, yaks and wolves, Mongolia's free spirited nomads have roamed this startlingly beautiful region for generations. Trek with local herdsmen across the Gobi, stay in traditional "gers" and try a bowl of "aitag" (fermented mare's milk) if you dare! Then, from Ulan Baatar, take the Trans-Siberian Express to the area of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake. There you can search for nerpa seals, the world’s only freshwater seals and visit Olkhon Island, the legendary birthplace of Genghis Khan.
FRANCE: There’s nothing quite like the Seine at night, with the buildings beautifully lit and Parisians strolling arm-in-arm. Unless it’s Normandy, with it’s WWII landing beaches, or Brittany with it’s rugged coastline and traditional ways. Maybe it’s the chateaux of the Loire or the vineyards of Bordeaux. Or perhaps it’s the undiscovered corners of Languedoc and the Dordogne. Or it just might be the lavender fields of Provence and the glitz of the Rivera. Nowhere else combines glamour, history, romance and beauty like France.
TROPICAL ISLANDS: One of Jean’s specialties…from the powdery soft sands of Anguilla and Providenciales to the mountains of Dominica and St Lucia, the islands offer a wealth of diverse activities. You can be as busy as you want with choices like snorkeling trips, deep sea fishing, sailing and diving or as lazy as you want with a beach chair, a good book and a pina colada. Finding the right island can sometimes be a challenge, but once you’ve found it, you just might not ever want to leave!
VANCOUVER AND VANCOUVER ISLAND: This is the one place that draws Jean back time and time again. The city of Vancouver is culturally diverse and set in a stunning setting. Backed by the Coast Mountains and fronting the sea, there is no prettier city anywhere. Great hotels, fabulous shopping, incredible restaurants and Stanley Park, the largest urban park in North America, makes Vancouver a destination to please everyone.
Add to that Vancouver Island, with the gentle English city of Victoria and it’s beautiful harbor and Parliament Building. There are the Gulf Islands, like Salt Spring where artists are in residence and the pace of life slows down. Then there is the rugged west coast, where North America meets the Pacific Ocean. You can hike among giant fir trees and along windswept beaches. There is whale watching, kayaking, nature trails and after all that, you can come back to a world class resort, treat yourself to a spa treatment and dine on the freshest seafood imaginable.
|  | Betty Jo L. Currie, ATC
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Exotic Travel - A specialist in active, adventurous, exotic holidays for families and small groups, with an emphasis on Africa
Expert Bio
A Vanderbilt University graduate, mother of three, and community volunteer, Betty Jo embraced travel as a vocation as well as avocation when, thirteen years ago, she became an independent consultant specializing in adventure and exotic destinations. In 2005, she and two partners purchased Explorations, a 17 year old Virtuoso agency at Vinings Jubilee.
Betty Jo is known for organizing carefully researched and detailed trips as distinct as Futaleufu River rafting in Chile, photographic safaris in eastern and southern Africa, and cultural immersions in India and Sri Lanka. Her favorite clients approach travel with benevolent intentions and an open, curious mind, and she routinely provides reading lists, literature, and specialty guides. Betty Jo is committed to travel that benefits local people, encourages ecotourism and helps everyone learn how to share the planet.
With her husband Andy, a recently retired dentist and an avid photographer, she has had the opportunity to travel to over 40 countries including such diverse locales as Fiji, Cambodia, Morocco , Patagonia, Italy and Bhutan . Travel has “built her life’s resume” and granted her a world education. Her recent adventures have taken her to Tibet, Malawi, South Africa, Chile and Greece.
Her ladies hiking trip in Machu Picchu was featured in the winter 2004 Town and Country Travel magazine; and Condé Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure have repeatedly named her to their “top travel consultants in the US" lists.
bettyjo@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
AFRICA: Passionate about the continent, Betty Jo has traveled to numerous African regions in her 14 trips since 1995. Adventures in Mali and Ethiopia have convinced her that “ultimately, people are more alike than they are different.” Gorilla trekking, canoeing the Zambezi River, riding horses in the Masaii Mara, game viewing in six countries, and photographing cultures everywhere feed her determination to return.
INDIA: Betty Jo has traveled to India six times, primarily because of the beauty of the Indian cultures and religions. She and her husband find amazing photographic opportunities in this colorful and diverse country. Betty Jo and a small group hiked the tea trails in neighboring Sri Lanka a year after the tsunami devastated the area in 2004/early 2005.
SOUTH AMERICA: An expert in South America, Betty Jo has voyaged to Chile several times, to Ecuador, to Argentina, and recently visited Peru with a small group of women celebrating their 50th birthdays. While she was in Patagonia, she enjoyed experiencing the history and the grand outdoors. While admiring the beauty of this stunning region, she also went rafting, horseback riding, fishing, and hiking.
|  | Jennifer Campbell
Interests & Specialties
Luxury Leisure Travel
Expert Bio
Jennifer Campbell, CTA, is a dynamic entrepreneur, executive and travel consultant with a focus on business development, space travel and food and wine itineraries. Her varied experiences, in combination with her attention to client relations and satisfaction, have continually contributed to her professional accomplishments.
Prior to her career in the travel business, Jennifer excelled in the economic development industry for 15 years, the last seven as Chief Operating Officer of Market Street Services, a boutique economic development firm. A native of Atlanta, Jennifer is also a Certified Insurance Agent, which has given her an understanding of complex financial matters. Jennifer’s executive experience has advanced and supported her work in travel; her drive and energy continuously help her to achieve success.
In 2005, Jennifer’s passion for travel inspired her to become a Partner at Explorations, joining forces with industry veterans Jean Pickard and Betty Jo Currie. At Explorations, Jennifer oversees day-to-day operations, industry partnerships and develops the strategy for the growing luxury agency. In 2006, Jennifer was named a Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent, one of only 47 in North America permitted to sell flights on Richard Branson’s space shuttles. She has garnered considerable praise and attention due to her status with Virgin Galactic, increasing her versatility and appeal as a travel agent.
In addition to space travel, Jennifer’s personal passion for food and wine provides a good background for creating food and wine programs and itineraries. While a lifetime of travel has taken her all over the world, her favorite spots include Thailand, Spain, South Africa and Bora Bora.
jennifer@explorationsltd.com
|  | Flay Muellenbach, CTA, DS
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Luxury Travel
Expert Bio
Flay started in the travel business in 1988 and has lived in the Atlanta area her entire life. She has adventured all over the world, including exciting trips to New Zealand, South Africa, Botswana, Italy, France and Costa Rica. Flay has developed an interest and expertise in planning romantic honeymoons anywhere in the world and booking exhilarating adventures to Botswana, Costa Rica and southern Africa. A Destination Specialist for both France and Costa Rica, she is well-versed in designing ventures to both. Flay enjoys planning trips as much as taking them, as she is anxious to share her passion for nature, architecture, scenery, food and culture.
flay@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
COSTA RICA and NICARAGUA: Flay traveled to these extraordinary Central American countries by Windstar cruise, where she enjoyed the beautiful flora and fauna, took a canopy zip line tour, went on an ATV Rainforest Adventure, and hiked and snorkeled on the Osa Peninsula.
SOUTHERN AFRICA: In March of 2006, Flay voyaged to Botswana, where she went on a game-viewing safari and Victoria Falls, the breathtaking waterfall situated on the Zambezi River, which forms the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
FRANCE: Traveling around the South of France, Flay visited Monaco, Nice and Cannes. The highlights of her trip included the breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, passing the gorgeous French countryside and enjoying the food that makes France famous across the world.
EASTERN EUROPE: While visiting Prague and Budapest, Flay enjoyed the architecture and culture of these stunning cities.
|  | Maryanne Giles, CTC
Interests & Specialties
Luxury Leisure Travel
Expert Bio
Maryanne began her career in the travel industry in 1983 and joined Explorations in 2005. She has worked in many facets of the industry in Birmingham, Huntsville and Atlanta as a branch manager, travel manager, instructor at travel school and a travel consultant. Maryanne specializes in group travel and customized itineraries. Ireland, Scotland, Tahiti and Bora Bora top her list of favorite destinations, although she has traveled extensively in the US, the Caribbean and Europe. When she isn’t hiking through the green hills of Ireland or watching the waves crash in Barbados, she enjoys helping seniors, keeping fit with Jazzercise, and spending time with her family in the North Georgia Mountains, where she grew up. Maryanne looks forward to an upcoming trip to the Galapagos Islands in May, where she will hike and swim with the critters of South America!
maryanne@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
BARBADOS: Maryanne ventured to Barbados in September of 2006, where she explored the resorts, enjoyed shopping, and learned about the people, flora and fauna of this beautiful and exotic Caribbean country. She watched surfers tip the big waves, took notice of the almond and mahogany trees and listened as the singing crickets and tree frogs sang her to sleep each night. While there, she learned many interesting details about the island and its people, including some history of the Bajans, who she learned descend from Africans, Asians, Hindus and Muslims.
|  | Viki Couch, CTA, DS
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Luxury Travel
Expert Bio
Viki Couch is a fifth generation Atlantan, who became interested in travel twelve years ago when she flew to Scotland to attend the marriage of her brother. She has always traveled but became enthralled and intrigued with Scotland and its culture, realizing that there was much more to see and learn outside of Georgia’s border. Although Viki’s heart is in the UK, she has ventured to Nova Scotia, Mexico, England and the Caribbean, listing cruise and beach trips as her favorite vacations. Viki enjoys planning family travel and escorting large cruise groups; she looks forward to an upcoming trip to the eastern Mediterranean.
viki@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
The MEDITERRANEAN: Viki took a spectacular cruise around the Mediterranean Sea that included the most stunning areas of France and Italy. She visited the beautiful city of Cannes and while in Italy, viewed the Amalfi coast and hiked through Cinque Terre, where she explored the five villages and traveled on the Via Dell’ Amore trail, beautifully carved out of rock above the sea.
NOVA SCOTIA: Venturing north to Canada, Viki went on a land tour that incorporated Nova Scotia and Cape Breton Island. While traveling by train, she observed bald eagles flying closely overhead the domed cabin of the train and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Viki fondly remembers the “true” lobster dinner she attended in Nova Scotia, where she enjoyed fresh lobster- so fresh that she had picked her favorite from the lobster boats that had just come in for the evening. While touring Cape Breton via motorcoach, the trip was halted while enormous moose (who apparently had their run of the island) crossed the road.
The CARIBBEAN: Viki and her family traveled to St. Martin for a shore excursion, where she strolled through the open markets, frequented the bistro cafes that line the streets and enjoyed the French feel of the island. Viki loved the shopping- particularly the textiles and clothes- and relaxed on Orient Beach, her favorite place to unwind while on the trip.
|  | Michelle Beatty-Schofield, CTA
Interests & Specialties
African-American Luxury Travel and Family Vacations
Expert Bio
A native of Pinehurst, North Carolina, Michelle began her career as a travel agency intern in the mid 1980s. Inspired by her flight attendant cousins, she moved on to a reservations sales agent for American Airlines. Since then, she has worked in every facet of the travel industry as a retail travel agent, VIP sales agent at a travel wholesaler, assistant meeting planner for a meetings and incentives firm, and as an Independent Contractor. At Explorations, Michelle does a little bit of everything: handling the accounting, running the affairs of the back office and working as a travel consultant. She enjoys traveling and has taken many exciting vacations including trips to Kenya, Antigua and Acapulco. Michelle lives outside of Atlanta with her husband and two daughters; together, they enjoy taking weekend trips to Barnsley Gardens in Adairsville, GA.
michelle@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
KENYA: Michelle traveled to Kenya in May, where she went on safari and saw the big five African game animals- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos. While in Kenya, Michelle stayed in three camps, including the luxurious, exotic and beautiful Olonana and Shompole camps.
ANTIGUA: Michelle recently ventured to the Caribbean, where she stayed in style on the beautiful island of Antigua in the 5-star Curtain Bluff Resort.
ACALPUCO: Michelle took her family to Acapulco, the beautiful sea port on the southern Pacific coast of Mexico. The family enjoyed relaxing and taking in the exquisite scenery.
|  | Kristen Hays
Interests & Specialties
Luxury Leisure Travel
Expert Bio
Kristen began her career with Explorations in January of 2007 as the Marketing and Writing specialist and transitioned to the position of Travel Associate in July 07, assisting Jean Pickard. Her enthusiasm for travel makes her a logical addition to the Explorations team, as she is always striving to see new places and top her last adventure. Kristen has traveled extensively throughout Europe-- including three month stints in Oxford, England and Graz, Austria-- and has also relished in visiting Egypt, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Tahiti, St. Lucia and South Africa. Her wish-list of future travel destinations includes Thailand, Tunisia, India and Chile. Kristen graduated summa cum laude from Emory University in 2006, where she honed her skills in writing with majors in English and French. A native of San Diego, California and northern Virginia, Kristen enjoys freelance writing, playing the harp, playing ALTA tennis and running 10k races.
Kristen@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
Croatia: Kristen voyaged to Croatia with her family in June 2007, taking trips to Split, Trogir and Dubrovnik during her two week stay on Brac Island. She enjoyed the fresh produce, fish, honey, red wine and olive oil grown, caught and made around her. Most of her days were spent enjoying the gorgeous Mediterranean scenery-- deep aqua waters, verdant vistas and rocky beaches.
Ireland: Kristen made her third trip to Ireland in April 2007, visiting Cork, Killarney, the Ring of Kerry, Galway and Sligo. She and a college friend went to many literary sites, particularly enjoying Lough Gill and Ben Bulben Mountain, both related to the poetry of W.B. Yeats. Kristen wrote a series of articles on her trip, which she published on the Explorations blog at www.explorationsltd.blogspot.com; her musings are in the April 2007 and May 2007 archives.
|  | Rozelle Putnam, DS
Interests & Specialties
Luxury and Adventure Travel, specializing in Southern Africa, Switzerland, Austria; and Regent, Silverseas and Crystal cruises
Expert Bio
Rozelle has lived and is living a “wonderfully full” life Adventurous at her core, she has chosen to adopt an attitude of optimism that allows her to “capture the full expression” of each of life’s moments. Born and educated in Cape Town, south Africa Rozelle has lived all over the world, including London, where she was a high fashion model, Germany, Angola, Namibia, where her children were born, and most other sub-Saharan countries. Travel is a way of life for Rozelle, she has visited all seven continents and over 100 countries; the list is still growing. She began planning excursions whilst living in Namibia and has continued escorting groups over the years to Thailand, Indonesia, South and Central America, the Falkland Islands, Scandinavia, Antarctica, Turkey, Egypt Jordan, India, Australia New Zealand and Easter Island. She loves to share her knowledge with “intimate groups of like-minded friends.” Her favorite places to visit in the world are the game parks of Southern and East Africa. Rozelle has lived in Atlanta since the late 70’s. Most of her family lives in the Atlanta area, besides her granddaughter, who recently left to study abroad at Stellenbosch University outside of Cape Town, South Africa. Rozelle is escorting a group to South Africa this spring; and looking forward to an upcoming Crystal cruise to Iceland and Greenland in August.
rozellevl@bellsouth.net
My Recent Trips
THAILAND: People all over the world have recognized Rozelle’s extraordinary spirit. While adventuring with a group through Thailand, a jade carver presented her with a small Buddha, a chip from a larger jade Buddha being carved in a temple to honor the King’s reign. On a subsequent trip to Thailand, a monk blessed the Buddha in a temple in Chiang Mai. She has it with her at all times.
Rozelle has been on countless adventures, too many to name. Through out her life she has had spiritual and physical adventures, all a result of her “hunger for faraway places.” Living in the Namib Desert she looked out of her kitchen window at the worlds largest shifting sand dunes. She climbed through the Sumatran rainforest to see the Orangutans, went elephant trekking in Northern Thailand, swam with the Jackass penguins off the shore of Cape Town, spent the night in a Bedouin tent in Morocco, visited the dragons on Komodo Island, went hot air ballooning over the Serengeti, conducted the Hanover Symphony orchestra and soared over Mount Everest in a small aircraft. The list just goes on and on.
|  | Suzanne Ballew
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Luxury Travel
Expert Bio
Suzanne Ballew started her travel career in 1989 planning natural history tours for Zoo Atlanta. Through the years, she has become a natural history specialist of sorts, traveling to Africa several times and visiting 8 different African countries to date. Now she plans gorilla trekking tours for the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund Int'l. Suzanne came to Explorations in 1995 and is a certified Destination Specialist for Africa, Central/South America, and Spain. Born in Panama, she has a special love for Central and South America, where she has planned an upcoming trip. On her wish list of travel destinations is Prague & Budapest, Hawaii, Italy, China and another trip to Africa.
stballew@mindspring.com
Suzanne@ballews.net
www.gorillatravel.net
My Recent Trips
RWANDA: Suzanne traveled to Rwanda twice to go trekking for gorillas where she traversed first by car, then through farm fields, then through dense forest to see one of the 7 different groups of gorillas, who were as close as 10 feet away.
KENYA: While in eastern Africa, Suzanne traveled to Masai Mara, where she stayed at the tented Little Governor’s Camp and observed African animals on safari.
SOUTH AFRICA: Suzanne surveyed the big five majestic African animals-- lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos—while on Safari in a game preserve adjacent to Kruger National Park.
|  | Anila Patel
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Exotic Luxury Travel, specializing in India, Africa and South America
Expert Bio
Anila Patel, a native of India and born in Tanzania, lives an adventurous life full of trips to extraordinary destinations. An avid adventurer, she has climbed the likes of Yosemite's Half Dome, has hiked the annapurna region of Himalayas in Nepal, and has hiked to the base of Torres del Pain in Patagonia. She has skied Whistler, and sailed through Tahiti and many other beautiful islands of the South Pacific. She is a Destination Specialist for Africa and her passion for photography, people and culture have taken her to exotic corners of the globe including Botswana, Egypt, South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, South America, Ecuador, Peru, Galapagos Island, and all across Europe. She is looking forward to future treks, voyages and adventures around the world.
anilap22@aol.com
Anila@explorationsltd.com
My Recent Trips
INDIA: Anila spent her Christmas in the Himalayas and New Years in sizzling southern India in 2006/2007. After experiencing the ultimate harmony between the physical and mental self with all the spa activities in a stunning world-renowned Ananda Spa, Once the residence of the Maharaja of Terhri-Garwhal, which is nestled in the foothills of Himalayas and overlooks the sacred river Ganges, is considered a top 10 Destination Spa. Afterwards, Anila traveled south to Karela, where she explored the backwaters, (the network of lakes, canals and deltas of forty- four rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea ). From there to Munar, the misty, lush green hill station up in a Anamalia range in Kerala to explore the sprawling tea plantations. Finally Spending five days in Goa, the European capital of Southern India.
PATAGONIA: While in South America, Anila traveled to the Explorer Lodge in Torres del Pain National Park. In the heart of Patagonia on the Chilean side, she enjoyed taking long hikes and walks led by a guide through the stunning region. She was presented with different opportunities for exploration each day, all while absorbing the marvelous scenery.
|  | Puran Arons
Interests & Specialties
Adventure and Luxury Travel, specializing in individual travel through Europe
Expert Bio
Puran Arons is a native of India. She grew up in Pakistan and immigrated to England to begin her career in the travel industry. After almost a decade on the Continent, Puran moved to the U.S. She has traveled extensively throughout Europe and cruised to several exotic destinations including the Orient, Japan, China, the Greek Isles and the Black Sea. In her spare time, Puran enjoys visiting the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands, loves to ski and is an avid biker. She specializes in leisure travel and enjoys planning extensive cruises, tours and personalized itineraries for domestic and foreign travel. If kayaking through Alaskan waters, ballooning over the wine country of France, exploring the last frontiers of Antarctica, or biking down the Halekala volcano in Maui is your idea of family vacation....then look no further. Puran enjoys booking for today’s savvy traveler, who wants to be challenged and educated. She can recommend whale watching from Baja to Hawaii, glacier skiing in New Zealand, a cruise up the Amazon, an African safari, a golf trip to Europe or an ecological tour in Costa Rica or the Galapagos Islands.
puran@explorationsltd.com
|  | Maggie Barton, CTC, DS
Interests & Specialties
Luxury Leisure Travel
Expert Bio
Travel-enthusiast and world explorer Maggie Barton has been an expert travel consultant since 1985. She is particularly talented in creating spectacular honeymoon trips and fun family vacations; Maggie specializes in the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. She has been an Independent Contractor since 1993.
Her passion for travel began when she lived on the coast of Brittany at the age of 10. Since then, she has traveled to Alaska, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and has made over thirty trips to Europe. Her wish-list of travel destinations includes Mt. Everest and the Seychelles.
A native Atlantan, Maggie attended the Westminster School and continued on to earn a B.A. in Psychology and B.S. in Geography from Mount Vernon College in Washington D.C. Maggie has two children and enjoys ice skating, walking, hiking and trekking; she also enjoys getaways to the mountains and the beach.
magtrips@comcast.net
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