Welcome to DigameXtra !
The Most Popular English Language Daily Newsletter In Andalucia
Content in this newsletter blog site comes from its Editor, Sponsors & Supporters (Holiday Fundraiser Donors). Submissions are subject to editing and posting at the Editor’s discretion. If I don’t want to post something, I won’t, and I do not owe you an explanation. Content from other sources is credited. The Editor is Naythan, aka DoctorLaptop.
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DigameXtra Featured Sponsor
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Editor’s Holiday: Monday, 3 February, there will be no issue, DigameXtra & DoctorLaptop will be closed.
Posts scheduled for 3 Feb. will be posted on the following day.
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ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
Donation info & instructions can be found in the Announcements Section here: https://digamextra.com/2025/01/23/digamextra-no-2934-thursday-january-23rd-2025/
Total Donations Received: 139 (2.8%)
4% target = 200 donations from 4955 subscribers
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NEW RULE: Anyone can read DigameXtra for free- on the website, or by email subscription. However, subscribers who wish to actively participate by making submissions will need to have donated at least €20 to the 2024 DigameXtra Holiday Fundraiser. If you won’t make the effort to donate just 39 cents a week (€20/yr), then please refrain from making submissions, as I have supporters that require my attention.
The Submission Rules Page has been updated to reflect this change.
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What’s On
Tell them you saw it on DigameXtra!
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Tango extravaganza- Tres Esquinas Tango:
Monday, 3 Feb, 8pm. Cervantes Theater, Malaga
R.E.A Danza’s new show transports us to the mythical neighbourhood of Buenos Aires where the vibrant and passionate culture of tango emerged. Through dance, Tres Esquinas becomes an immersive experience that narrates the neighbourhood’s transformation from its origins as a bastion of the suburbs to its evolution as a residential area and industrial and transportation centre, where entertainment, work and ephemeral moments co-exist.
Tres Esquinas captures the essence of movement and reflects the flow of life at that crucial moment of the 1940s.
This voyage through time reveals the “last moment of drunkenness” of a past that is about to conclude, marking the end of an era full of history and the emergence of tango as a unique artistic expression, born of the transit and vitality of this peculiar district of Buenos Aires.
Info & tix (€24): https://www.teatrocervantes.com/en/genero/danza/temporada-2024-25/tres-esquinas-tango-1833
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Valentines Day 2025: Friday, 14 Feb.
Spending the special day in Malaga?
Stay in the most romantic hotels in Malaga.
Before you arrive, pick your hotel to match the occasion. Push your budget as much as you can to get the best room and be sure to tell the hotel you’re on a romantic trip (they’ll probably add an extra in the room for you).
We think the following hotels make the perfect base for a romantic break in Malaga:
– Castillo de Santa Catalina – stay in an Arabian nights setting, with panoramic views of the city at your feet. Splurge on the tower suite. Info: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/where-to-stay/splurge-hotels-in-malaga/soho-boutique-castillo-de-santa-catalina/
– Gran Hotel Miramar – go 5* Gran Luxe for an extra special stay, with plenty of romantic treats such as breakfast by the pool and a spa treatment (or two). Info: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/where-to-stay/splurge-hotels-in-malaga/gran-hotel-miramar/
– Only You – enjoy fabulous views in 5* accommodation, bang in the city centre. Treat yourselves to a portside/ Mediterranean view. Info: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/where-to-stay/splurge-hotels-in-malaga/only-you-malaga/
– Palacio Solecio – stay in one of Malaga’s loveliest historic palaces, with luxury trimmings to match. Info: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/where-to-stay/palacio-solecio/
Full article: https://www.guidetomalaga.com/do/time-out/5-impossibly-romantic-things-to-do-in-malaga/
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XI Festival de Música Sacra y Música Antigua
(11th Festival of Sacred and Early Music)
“La Liebre de Marzo” Saturdays 8, 15, 22 & 29 March
Frigiliana / Almáchar / Cómpeta / Periana
Free entry until capacity reached.
– Malaga Baroque Orchestra- Frigiliana
Saturday 8th March / 12’30 hrs
San Antonio de Padua Parish Church
Women composers of the Baroque (Chamber music by Isabella Leonarda and Jaquet de la Guerre)
– Quartet Con Fuoco + Teresa García Molero- Almáchar
Saturday 15th March / 12’30 hrs
Parish Church of San Mateo Apóstol
Travellers of the past
Works By: Father Antonio Soler / Georg Philipp Telemann
– Spinto Quartet- Cómpeta
Saturday 22nd March / 12’30 hrs
Church of Ntra. Sra. de la Asunción
Mozart ‘Requiem for a quartet’ (Adaptation by Peter Lichtentahl)
– Chapel of Music ‘Maestro Iribarren’- Periana
Saturday 29th March / 12’30 hrs
Church of San Isidro Labrador
Tutto Albinoni
Info: https://www.ventana-abierta.es/la-liebre-de-marzo.html
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Very Special Concerts with limited seating- Rincón Treasure Cave Music Festival 2025: Fridays, February 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 8:30 p.m.
– 7th. Mariola Cantarero {Video Link}
– 14th. Ginés González
– 21st. Erika Leiva
– 28th. Muchopelo (on Andalucia Day holiday)
Each show has limited capacity of 80 spectators.
All concerts will be priced at 10 euros per seat. Tickets can be purchased starting Tuesday, January 21 at 12:00 noon on this website: https://entradas.turismoenrincon.es/ (two ticket max).
For more information about the festival, please contact the following telephone number: 952406162.
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Weather Forecast from https://weather.com/
Tap or click image for updated forecast
Warning Note: High winds & waves possible until 10pm Tuesday
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NOTICE!
Submissions for posting in sections below
must be signed like this or they will be returned !!!
Sender’s First Name / Nearest Town
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Services Wanted/Offered
Check the DigameXtra Sponsor’s list whenever you need a service. By using these services you are helping support DigameXtra.
Landlords, tell your renters about DigameXtra, where they can get overnight answers to questions about local stuff without having to call you!
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ARCHGROVE TRANSPORT SERVICES
Archgrove Services: A family run light haulage/transport company with bases in Archez, Spain and Cambridgeshire.
We are part of the ADH Storage and Transportation company and as such have storage available in Competa and Puente Don Manuel. Very reasonable rates.
We provide a one stop service for all your transport needs and pride ourselves on reliability, flexibility, good communication and a very much ‘can do’ approach. No job is too small and there is always a solution.
Our services include:
-Regular runs between UK and Spain
-Transport of personal property from full house moves to small single items
-Man & Van services
-Packing, including supply of packing materials
-UK Home shopping with UK delivery address
-Storage of property and vehicles in Spain
If we can be of service please contact Gail. We are on Facebook and always available to chat through your needs and provide a free no obligation quote if required.
UK: 0044 7846672013
Spain: 0034 951 066 093
Email: archgroveservices@gmail.com ; FB Link
Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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SPW CONSTRUCTION SERVICES
SPW Construction Services: Professional high quality building service, fully qualified tradesmen to all trades.
Extensions, retaining walls, driveways, swimming pools, damp problems, roofs, blocked drains.
Replacement kitchens and bathrooms, Tiling and terraces. Plumbing, electrics and plastering, painting.
Architect service, building licence applications.
Handyman service now available for those smaller jobs.
Water Deposit Installations: Due to the ongoing drought and current water restrictions SPW Construction are currently offering the following service.
– Supply and installation of new above or below ground water deposits. 1000 litres up to 25000 litres. Delivered and installed, all relevant plumbing. All work warrantied.
– We can also advise you or help to organise water deliveries from local suppliers.
Selling Your House? SPW Construction can offer you a bespoke package to prepare your house for sale.
Through our extensive relationships with Agents, buyers and sellers we understand what is required to present your home to potential purchasers.
Interior & Exterior decoration / Replacement bathrooms and Kitchens
Pool Reforms / Garden tidy
DAFO Compliance, septic tanks, solar installations, etc.
Roof checks / Damp proofing
For free consultation and estimate contact us on 622938440
or email: scottparkwilson AT yahoo DOT co DOT uk
Scott/Arenas. Home Page and FB-Link
Our contact info is also in the DigameXtra Sponsor’s Section everyday.
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Buy / Sell / Trade / Rent / Wanted
Click on pics to enlarge
How to post more photos than the rules allow – use collages. The limit is one pic per item/event. You can combine several of your photos into a
single collage photo by using this free online collage creation tool. It’s very easy to use, give it a try! https://www.photocollage.com/
Are you still dealing with scammers on Fakebook Marketplace?
Sell your items here, to locals, for cash, without the shenanigans.
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Great Deals From The Upcycling Nerja
– Preloved Castilian sideboard natural wood ( waxed ) Beige color measurements 110 x 39 x 86cms Price 175€
– Occasional stool beige color measurements 41 x 36 x 44cms Price 45€
– Castilian mirror natural wood ( waxed ) grey color measurements 60 x 80cms price 55€
contact Jackie/ nerja 672170429
upcycling nerja at gmail dot com
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Recommendations, Requests & Comments
When making a recommendation always include the phone number or website of the biz, service, etc., so readers can reach them.
Note: I can’t post third party email addresses.
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Make your annual DigameXtra donation now!: All the details are in the Announcements section at the top of the issue. If you want to be able to make submissions you’ll need to do this. -Ed.
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Processionary Caterpillars: Hi Naythan, We have had some bad experiences with these creatures, particularly bad allergic reactions. I thought I’d send you this video as an example if you feel like posting it!
Cheers, Nick, La Herradura.
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News & Articles
(Click the link to read the full article)
{ Translations by www.DeepL.com/Translator }
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News Note: The main story today, being covered by all the news outlets, is the revolutionary Deepseek AI from China, free artificial intelligence for the masses! Tech stocks have tanked while industry giants scramble to salvage their investments. Hopefully we will have moved on to other things tomorrow. I was ahead of the curve posting about this yesterday before it hit the main stream media, and two days is enough for this story IMHO.
SPAIN
Polls show Left losing support- PP and Vox open the gap and together would hold 195 seats: {Translation, summary}
– The president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, takes pains in each session of the Congress to remind the leader of the opposition, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, that there is still a legislature left for a while, until 2027. Neither the lack of general state budgets nor the growing parliamentary defeats of the Executive – the last two last week, with the repeal of two of the three royal decree laws that he led to validate – discourage him. Perhaps the socialist’s main reason for not dissolving the government and calling new elections lies behind the data from the latest GAD3 barometer for ABC.
– If general elections were held now, the PSOE and Sumar would find it impossible to revalidate their parliamentary majority with left-wing, nationalist and pro-independence parties.
– If in October last year, in the previous poll published by this newspaper, the PP and Vox amply surpassed the absolute majority, without the need for third parties, with 187 seats, now the evolution reflects an upward trend for both parties and perhaps explains the hardening of the tone of the Popular Party towards the PNV, to which they no longer dedicate the pampering they offered a few months ago. If the current situation continues, Feijóo will only have to negotiate with Santiago Abascal (VOX) to form a new government. Between the two of them, they would now have 195 seats, twenty-five more than they have now and only seven below the historic victory of Felipe González in 1982. Compared to October, the PP’s percentage of the vote is practically unchanged – up eight tenths of a percentage point to almost 35 per cent – but its number of deputies has increased from 147 to 151.
– Vox, for its part, would continue to grow and would demonstrate that, at least strategically, its break with the regional governments it shared with the PP in July last year was a wise move, after the PP accepted in their territories the distribution of unaccompanied foreign minors from the Canary Islands. Ten months ago, before taking that decision, Abascal’s party was in a range of between twenty-four and twenty-eight seats. Now they would exceed fourteen percent in voting intentions and would claim 44 deputies; only eight below their historic ceiling in the November 2019 elections.
Source, Spanish: https://www.abc.es/espana/pp-vox-abren-brecha-sumarian-juntos-195-20250127225740-nt_amp.html
TORROX
The council of Torrox unanimously approves the request to the Spanish Government for an exit from the motorway for El Morche: {Translation, summary}
– The plenary session of Torrox Town Council {pic} has unanimously approved to urge the Spanish Government as soon as possible to draft the project for a second exit of the A7 motorway in the municipality at the height of El Morche. This is a proposal from the PP municipal group, which also approved the transfer of the plenary agreement to the Ministry of Transport and Mobility of the central government. The municipal spokesman of the Popular Party of Torrox, José Manuel Fernández, reiterated in the plenary session that ‘this exit from the motorway has already been put on the table as an urgent necessity’.
– In the explanatory memorandum of the motion it is explained that “Torrox is one of the few municipalities in the Spanish Mediterranean with more than 20,000 inhabitants with only one access to the A7 motorway”, said the councillor, who added that ‘it is possibly the only municipality with nine kilometres of coastline in this situation’. Added to this is ‘the added difficulty that the only access to the A7, which, as well as covering the historic centre of Torrox and the neighbouring municipality of Cómpeta, is excessively far from the coast and can only be reached by one lane on each road’. Source, Spanish: https://www.axarquiaplus.es/el-pleno-de-torrox-aprueba-por-unanimidad-solicitar-al-gobierno-de-espana-una-salida-de-la-autovia-para-el-morche/
RINCÓN DE LA VICTORIA
An earthquake was recorded with an epicenter in Rincón de la Victoria: {Translation, summary}
– An earthquake of magnitude 2.8 was felt this Sunday afternoon in the province of Malaga. Specifically, the earthquake occurred at 16:30 hours, with its epicentre in Rincón de la Victoria, according to data recorded by the National Geographic Institute (IGN).
– The tremor took place in the sea, to the southeast of the municipality of Rincón de Victoria, at a depth of 62 kilometres. Some local residents claim to have felt it, albeit very slightly.
– In 1494 Malaga was the epicentre of an earthquake which, according to the historical data that has been preserved, is estimated to have had a magnitude of 6.5. Less than a century later, in June 1581, another powerful earthquake was also recorded with an epicentre in Malaga. Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/rincon-de-la-victoria/terremoto-rincon-victoria-malaga_0_2003217311.html
HEALTH
Andalucia adds only four more family medicine posts despite the desperate need for them: {Translation, summary}
– Nearly five thousand healthcare professionals in Granada, Seville, Malaga and Cadiz are taking the exam today to compete for almost two thousand medical and nursing speciality posts. Those who win the places, known as MIR or EIR (in the case of nursing), will spend the next few years as interns in Andalusian health centres. So far, so familiar.
– What is new is that there is little new, as the increase in the number of vacancies is minimal for family medicine, which is the speciality in which most staff are urgently needed. In spite of the fact that this has been a year of quarrels between the administrations due to the scarce supply, the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Health has made 438 places available for the next resident doctors for family doctors, only four more than last year (434). Source, Spanish: https://www.malagahoy.es/andalucia/andalucia-cuatro-plazas-medicina-familiar-necesidad-mir_0_2003211325.html
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A human case of bird flu has been confirmed in England:
– “The UK Health Security Agency said a person in the West Midlands region caught bird flu on a farm where they had close and prolonged contact with a large number of infected birds.” “The affected individual is now in isolation and contact tracing is underway.” X Link
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ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
It seems China has undercut US corporate plans to make lots of money from AI by releasing a free, powerful version called #DeepSeek. https://deepseek.com & X Link
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China’s New AI Model DeepSeek Just Won the Tech Race…American CEOs in Shock!: This is an in depth analysis of the new developments in plain English. Video Link
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One AI scam becomes obvious, news cycle manipulation: {DigameXtra}
– More and more news text is being written by AI as publishing businesses cut staff to lower expenses. Editors using AI to do their writing set the topic and the number of words the articles should contain so as to meet targets and quotas.
– AI often “bulks up” articles with superfluous content to reach these word targets. This results in many articles containing more words than necessary. All these extra words waste the time of researchers who must sift thru the rubbish to find the gems of real info worth saving.
– But wait, one of the main functions AI providers promote as a use for their tools is to summarize articles. They claim it will save researchers and writers time and effort.
– Thus, AI causes the problem and provides the solution. Just like back in the 50s when advertisers convinced us we all stink so they could sell us deodorant. They create a problem so they can sell you the fix. In this case AI providers profit from both ends, selling the writing service to publishers, and selling the summary tools to authors and editors.
– In the long run this ends up wasting even more time for researchers. Now they 
must read the bloated articles, then load them into an AI summarizer, read those results, fact check the results (as nothing AI produces can be trusted), and then assemble their own summary articles out of the info collected. FUBAR!!! No wonder the main stream news is in such a bad state of affairs, haemorrhaging readership/viewership, while social media, with its brevity in posts, is now the prime news source, evidenced by X (formerly Twitter) now bring the leading news app in the 140 countries. [Ref: https://www.latestly.com/socially/technology/elon-musk-run-x-tops-global-news-app-rankings-leading-in-over-140-countries-on-app-store-6409862.html ]
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Chinese AI startup DeepSeek overtakes ChatGPT on Apple App Store:
– Chinese startup DeepSeek’s AI Assistant on Monday overtook rival ChatGPT to become the top-rated free application available on Apple’s App Store in the United States. Powered by the DeepSeek-V3 model, which its creators say “tops the leaderboard among open-source models and rivals the most advanced closed-source models globally”, the artificial intelligence application has surged in popularity among U.S. users since it was released on Jan. 10, according to app data research firm Sensor Tower.
– The milestone highlights how DeepSeek has left a deep impression on Silicon Valley, upending widely held views about U.S. primacy in AI and the effectiveness of Washington’s export controls targeting China’s advanced chip and AI capabilities. Full article: https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/chinese-ai-startup-deepseek-overtakes-chatgpt-apple-app-store-2025-01-27/
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Humour & Diversions Section
Free Comic Strips provided by https://www.arcamax.com/comics
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Let me get this straight…ALL the politicians and CEO’s – ALL across the Western world – ALL miraculously became incompetent or stupid – ALL at the exact same time – ALL in the exact same way – coincidentally: X Link
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Remember when we didn’t have signs telling us not to poop in the street, I wonder what changed?: X Link
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Exchange quotes from Xe.com
Click here to see updated quotes & more currencies
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Fun & Games
National Geographic Photo of the Day: Click Here
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Click Here
Word of the Day: Click Here
Quote of the Day: Click Here
Fact of the Day: Click Here
Born Today: Click Here
Today in History: Click Here
Today’s Front Pages (New Link), worldwide: Click Here
Daily Mail UK- Daily Sudoku: Click Here
Cinesur El Ingenio Films schedule: You can find the film schedule at this link. Films tagged as (VOSE) are in the original language with Spanish subtitles.
https://www.cinesur.com/es/cine/mk2-cinesur-el-ingenio
Useful Links, Info & Numbers
2025 Holiday Calendars by town, click/tap to view:
Algarrobo
Competa
Malaga
Nerja
Rincon
Torrox
Velez-Málaga
For other towns in Malaga Province, visit this website, click your town, then look for the post named “Calendario Laboral de ‘Your Town‘ 2025 “, click that to see calendar.
https://www.foro-ciudad.com/malaga.html
Petrol Prices – Updated daily: These are the fuel stations in Malaga province with the lowest prices. The price data for 95 and 98-octane petrol and diesel fuel is updated every day. See it here:
https://www.surinenglish.com/malaga/updated-daily-these-20220314114157-nt.html
Weekly Markets
Monday: Torrox Costa
Tuesday: Nerja, Salobrena
Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria, Algarrobo Costa
Thursday: Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar, Frigiliana
Friday: Almunecar, Salobrena, La Herradura- Summers only, Mercadillo de La Cala del Moral- Rincon de la Victoria.
Saturday: Competa, Mezquitilla@Algarrobo behind the Sala Ottowa
Sunday: Nerja Car Boot
Taxi
Nerja 952 524 519
Torrox: 952 531 030
Frigiliana: 952 533 231
Phone numbers for emergencies
Emergency Services.: 112
National Police: 091
Guardia Civil: 062
Ambulance: 061
Fire Station (Bomberos): 080
Emergency English Help Line: 902 102 112
Local Police
Torrox: 952 539 828
Nerja: 952 521 545
Frigiliana: 952 533 126
Torre del Mar: 952 549 238
Local/National News in English, The Sur: http://www.surinenglish.com/
Local Weather: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/torre-del-mar/306652/weather-forecast/306652
Bus Info: https://www.alsa.com/en/web/bus/our-destinations/regional
Currency Converter: https://www.x-rates.com/calculator/?from=EUR&to=GBP&amount=1
Internet Speed Test: http://beta.speedtest.net/
Local Bank Holidays: http://www.officeholidays.com/countries/spain/index.php UK Newspaper Front Pages and Worldwide Newspapers All On One Site: https://www.thepaperboy.com/uk/front-pages.cfm
Check All Lottery Results Here: Updated daily.
https://www.20minutos.es/loterias/
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings in Malaga Province: New, updated link (Aug, 2023). Info in English with list of English speaking meetings. https://aacostadelsol.com/
DoctorLaptop’s Homepage: https://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com/
DigameXtra is now on X (formerly Twitter) at @DigameXtra. I also post articles there that are too controversial for the daily newsletter. However, you need a free X account to visit the @DigameXtra page on X.
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Home Page – Based in Torrox Costa, near the bus station.
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