每次出门前，总要做很多功课，这次也不例外。自助游绝对是件苦差使，安排行程，订购机票、车票、船票、酒店、各处景点门票，既想经济实惠、又要舒心愉悦，绝对是个大工程。所谓兵马未动，功略先行。

这次收集的情报很多很丰富，值得分享一下。
申请法国签证，http://corp.tlscontact.com/contact/visa_application.ip?locale=en
法国火车票订购，http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers
巴黎赛纳河游船订票，http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/
欧洲境内廉价航空公司，http://www.easyjet.com/en
意大利火车票订购，http://www.trenitalia.com/
罗马斗兽场避免长时间排队功略，http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k6091886-Colosseum_undergound_tour_FAQ_s-Rome_Lazio.html
罗马斗兽场门票订购，避免长时间排队，http://www.coopculture.it/en/ticket.cfm?office=Colosseo&id=2

Independant travel is never easy, it takes a lot of time reading, searching to plan you agenda, settle your air tickets, train tickets, cruise tickets, hotels and admission tickets etc.  No exception this time, so much time and efforts have went into it.  Hopefully everything will go fine!

Useful information I have collected,
Apply for French Visa, http://corp.tlscontact.com/contact/visa_application.ip?locale=en
France train tickets, http://www.sncf.com/en/passengers
Seine cruise online booking, http://www.bateauxparisiens.com
Budget airlines, http://www.easyjet.com/en
Italy train tickets, http://www.trenitalia.com/
Roma Colosseum tour Q&A (how to avoid the long queue), http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k6091886-Colosseum_undergound_tour_FAQ_s-Rome_Lazio.html
Roma Colosseum tickets online booking, avoid long queue, http://www.coopculture.it/en/ticket.cfm?office=Colosseo&id=2

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已经不记得上次到北京是什么时候了，只记得那时鸟巢还在建，水立方还不知踪影，哈哈。记忆中的北京充满历史、文化、政治气息，与上海金融中心的氛围大相径庭。是每个初到中国的人最先应该去的宏伟之都。

1. 5月的北京还多了PM2.5和满天飞舞的杨絮，据说这已经是许多杨树被绝育后的景象了。
2.正如传闻中所说的，北京的出租车出奇的难打。晚饭后的世贸天阶1个小时也没能打到车，最后只能等公交。最后一天听某出租车司机说，现在大家都用手机上的打车软件了，街上是打不着的了。
3. 这一次，我特意感受了一下，老北京的四合院。四合院的生活有优有劣。老房子，有味道。可是，大家都在天井里出出进进时，就有点吵了，尤其是早上。
4. 首都人民比上海人民热情，会侃。
5. 去鸟巢、水立方，其实地铁有个口出来就是奥林匹克公园。但其他地铁口有骑三轮的，会告诉不明方向的游客，这里离门口还有几公里呢，你自己是走不到的，劝你坐他们的交通工具前往。我还差点就上当了。
6. 印象中，北京的地铁只有2、3条线，没想到现在已经增加到15条了，发展神速啊。
7. 传说中的艺术创意园798有些萧条。
8.原来三里屯如此‘精彩’，主街上都是跳铜管的酒吧，不用进门，就能隔着橱窗尽享里面的香艳场面了。上海虽然也有香艳的场所，但不会让你在门外就能免费观看。平行的另一条街才有在上海常见的所谓‘清吧’。

Can't remember when was my last time in Beijing, it was time that the 'Bird Nest' was still in construction, such long time ago.  To me, Beijing is all about rich history and culture, politics, very different to Shanghai the-financial-center.  Beijing should definitely be the first city on the list to anyone who travels to China.

1. Sadly, Beijing is so air polluted these day.
2. To order a taxi from cell phone app is getting very popular, that's why getting a taxi on the streets seems mission impossible.
3. I chose to stay in a traditional 'siheyuan' hostel for the first couple of days to experience what was the old Beijing life like.  If you don't mind the courtyard being noisy in the morning, then go explore it a little bit.
4. I have the impression that Beijingers are more friendly and hospitable than we Shanghainese. 
5. Entrance of the Olympic park where the 'Bird nest' and 'Water cube' is right next to one of the metro exits.  However, the pedicab drivers at the other exits would tell you that the entrance is still a few kilometers away, it's way too far by walking.  That was a good trick.
6. I still remember the days that Beijing has only 2 or 3 metro lines.  But it's 15 now, how fascinating!  Moving around with metros are the No.1 choice.
7. Not sure if it's the time or what, 798 art zone doesn't have many visitors at all.
8. I was so surprised that Sanlitun - the famous bar street was turned into a window-shopping-pole-dancing street, you don't even have to step in to watch.  That doesn't happen in Shanghai, I mean you'll have to pay to see stuff like that in Shanghai.  There are quite some real bars too where you can drink and talk on the parallel street.