(1) The entrance to the "Ruche" studios, where early 20th-century Montparnasse painters like Chaglar, Modigliani, and Soutine lived and worked. (2) This is a famous Parisian weekend book market, often attracting many scholars or book-loving citizens to search for their reading materials and collectible books. (3) Vanves weekend market—a colorful East African clothing and daily necessities market.

The weather on Sunday was partly sunny. In this relaxed, leisurely summer holiday, life with my partner is pleasant. Paris offers endless ways to enjoy oneself; you can experience rural field life without leaving the metropolis. With two vast forests, hundreds of parks (gardens), and green spaces to choose from, you can freely arrange boating, walking, hiking, picnics, sunbathing, listening to concerts, outdoor gatherings, or romance. It is not difficult to find a quiet place in the city if you know how to live; everything will be beautiful.

Since my wife has not yet started her summer vacation, we enjoyed a lazy weekend in Paris. We like strolling through various corners of the city, contemplating and exploring the poetic beauty of Paris. Recently, my wife became fascinated by the biographies of early 20th-century Montparnasse painters, sighing at their extraordinary lives and creations. She hopes to have the opportunity to explore the traces of that era. We originally planned to visit the scenic Montsouris Park before the University City for a picnic. Unexpectedly, we decided to have lunch at the modern Georges Brassens Park first, then stroll to Montsouris Park. Blessed by the T3 light rail near our home, which is now convenient and fast for us, we simply prepared Italian fusilli salad, prosciutto, sausages, fruits (melon and peach), and brewed a pot of our favorite Taiwanese high-mountain tea.

Around 2 p.m., we left for the lush green Georges Brassens Park by tram. Getting off, we walked down Dantzig Street, looking around for a bakery (since those near our home were closed for vacation). We couldn't find one but unexpectedly saw an unassuming building in a side alley, clearly a studio-like structure. Curious, we did not enter to investigate further but continued circling the park to find bread. Finally, we found one (near the book market), but it was closed until after 3 p.m. We had to make do with our picnic. For French people, no bread is like having no rice for us.

We settled on the lawn under the trees by the pond with the red-brick clock tower. On the lawn by the shimmering water pool ahead, many people were already relaxing, lying down enjoying the sun, reading newspapers and magazines, children playing, families or friends gathering for picnics and chatting. We slowly enjoyed our pastoral picnic. The Italian fusilli salad had a unique flavor (because my wife added plenty of spices), perhaps because I was hungry! Without bread, the prosciutto, sausage, and cheese felt more like snacks. The peaches and melon were particularly sweet and delicious, and of course, the food tasted even better with the field atmosphere. After a short rest, I lay on the grass meditating, gazing at the clouds and the shy sun, and strolled among the flowers and bushes on the hills in deep thought.

In the evening, we wandered around the book market next to the park, roaming through forests of various series, enjoying the scent of books. This is the famous Parisian weekend book market, often attracting many scholars or book-loving citizens to search for their favorite reading materials and collectible books. Then we prepared to move to the scenic Montsouris Park. We were again attracted by that unassuming building and went to investigate. We discovered it was the "Ruche" studios, where early 20th-century Montparnasse painters like Chagall, Modigliani, and Soutine lived and worked. It is now a private foundation, inaccessible to the public. Locked behind iron gates, I wondered if other painters still work inside.

Taking the light rail, I intended to go to Montsouris Park before the University City. Unexpectedly, while on the train, I had a sudden inspiration to get off at the Vanves gate station. Having heard about the Vanves market, especially for treasure hunting (paintings and antiques), curiosity led us to visit the Vanves weekend market ourselves. The crowded market was obviously filled with East African Arab and African customers. This was a colorful East African clothing and daily necessities market, not a flea market. Rows of stalls under the shade displayed abundant second-hand goods, reminding me of the cheap bargains and lively noise of Taiwan's dusk markets or night markets, creating a sense of being lost, as if entering a North African exotic scene and forgetting we were in Paris! There were hardly any treasures to be found, which was a bit disappointing. We continued following the crowd to the end of the market. The front row of flea stalls had mostly packed up; only a few remaining stalls were closing. Indeed, there were treasures to be found, but we arrived too late. We saw abundant artifacts and mediocre paintings, hard to say they were valuable. Anyway, there was a mix of everything. These stalls attracted me more; I should come back next time out of curiosity. The weekend passed beautifully amidst speculation and curiosity. Paris has many places worth exploring. Next time, follow me to wander around.