(Top) The Seine beach under the Bibliothèque nationale de France in the 13th arrondissement, where people lazily read and enjoy the river view. (Bottom) Actors telling stories with gestures to children in the reading area. Since summer began, Paris weather has been cloudy with showers rather than sun; rare clear days have kept the heat at bay. People are spending these cloudy, rainy days as if summer hasn't arrived yet. Looking at Europe's weather this year, it is quite abnormal: Eastern Europe faces extreme heat above 40 degrees, while Southern Italy and Greece suffer forest fires. Meanwhile, Britain endures heavy rains. Paris seems lucky compared to these extremes. Memories of past heatwaves, which caused over 2,000 deaths, remain fresh. This year, city cooling measures were unnecessary. Summer swimwear and cooling sprays are selling poorly, suggesting that global climate instability is becoming more apparent—a reflection of humanity's uncertain future.

The annual summer beach event started on July 20 for a month, kicking off Parisians' summer activities. On this weekend, despite the clouds, the sun briefly appeared, making the passionate Parisians shyly hide from it. This was the third wave of Parisians leaving the city. Early morning highways were jammed with cars heading out to escape the heat, and train stations were bustling. As the holiday peak approached, the city center became quieter. Traffic flowed smoothly, and the metro was less crowded. Pedestrians were rare, except for some tourists on bicycles. Most people gathered at major tourist spots, museums, or shopping streets, leaving the rest of the city empty.

On a day with occasional sunshine, my partner and I went for a picnic and walk, a common summer ritual for Parisians. Remember Manet's "Luncheon on the Grass" at the Musée d'Orsay, which captures this tradition? Parisians always find ways to enjoy life thanks to abundant green spaces. We prepared a simple picnic—salad, ham, sausage, fruits (peaches and apples), cake—and brewed coffee. We headed to Bercy Park, passing bakeries that were closed for vacation. We bought French bread and walked down toward the MK2 cinema and surrounding cafes, which seemed deserted. The four buildings of the Bibliothèque nationale de France stood lonely, watching over each other. The pine forest in the middle was unusually quiet, even without bird songs. Few people passed on the wide terrace. A few couples sat on the steps facing the Seine, enjoying the view.

Crossing the Simone de Beauvoir promenade bridge, we looked back at the Seine's bright scenery. The left bank's beach setup, including coffee boats and pool boats, was lively. Crossing back to the lush Bercy Park, the large lawn had few visitors. Groups of young people playing were gone, and the usual liveliness was absent. The carousel by the film library waited for children. The park was exceptionally peaceful. Entering the flower garden, we crossed the fragrant rose garden, vineyard, and vegetable patch to sit on the lawn under a plane tree near the gardener's house. We spread a tablecloth and laid out our food. Picnicking among flowers made the food taste better. Others were also picnicking nearby, lying on the grass dreaming or sunbathing. We slowly enjoyed delicious desserts and strong coffee, lying next to our loved one, watching clouds drift by, living the carefree Parisian life.

We didn't get up until evening to stroll through the garden and talk about life. We visited the small village behind the garden, browsing shops and bookstores, and bought my daughter the English edition of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which had just come out late the previous night, to surprise her. Returning to the park, we crossed the Simone de Beauvoir bridge again to the 13th arrondissement beach under the national library. Due to the clouds, there were fewer people than expected. The Seine riverside features color-coded leisure areas: outdoor cafes, sunbathing zones, reading areas (an outdoor library set up this year), swimming zones, relaxation areas, and walking paths. Many people lay lazily on cloth chairs resting or reading newspapers, or dozed on wooden loungers. Outdoor cafes and beer houses were full. Few people swam in the pool boats. The reading area attracted many children, who quietly read comic books with their mothers. Some children did painting under expert guidance. Daily, actors performed storytelling games for children. I happened to witness this, observing the children's expressions. My wife borrowed books and found a comfortable chair to read. Afterwards, we strolled along this imagined beach, enjoying the gentleness of the Seine. How beautiful it is to embrace Paris. At night, rock or jazz music plays here, allowing young Parisians to spend their summer peacefully. We returned home after dusk, having spent a wonderful Saturday, deciding to picnic again tomorrow.