AVF Lyon-Rhone end of the year Gala

At the end of each year (working on a school year schedule) our AVF regional group hosts a Gala.  We’ve gone to them in the Prefecture (see post July 7, 2017) and in other locations.  This year it was held in the Marie of the 7^th arrondisement of Lyon.  (A quick side note:  Lyon is a large city, and it is broken up into nine arrondisements or districts.  Each has its own marie or city hall and manages a variety of local governmental functions including weddings.)

Exterior of the Marie of the 7th arrondisement

As we walked into the building and checked in, we saw the impressive, grand staircase that leads to various meeting rooms and the Salle de Marriage where the event was to be held.  The Salle de Marriage is where civil marriage ceremonies are held.  In France civil marriages are the legal ones and must take place before any religious ones.  Because of that, salles des marriages are usually quite large and attractive and have the obligatory bust or statue of Marianne looking on.

Front of the Salle de Marriage and Marianne

The caterers were beginning to set up with a variety of drinks, mostly Cremant de Bourgogne, and lots of hors-d'œuvres and pastries just outside the hall.  And, a jazz trio was playing from a landing midway up the stairs.

Soon it was time for the formal event to begin and Monique Marcel, Présidente d’AVF-Lyon-Rhône, welcomed us all, introduced her team and past presidents and presented a recap of the past year. (Another side note:  Monique is a very delightful, capable woman, and AVF has definitely benefitted from her leadership.  She is also very personable and friendly, and we are fortunate to have her as a friend.)  

After the formal presentation, we all began to mingle, have something to drink and eat and enjoy the music (the trio had moved into the Salle de Marriage).

Great jazz trio!  

We continue to enjoy our membership in AVF, Accueil des Villes Françaises.  Through AVF we have met many, many people and enjoyed many experiences we would have missed otherwise.  And, we enjoyed celebrating the end of another very successful year for AVF Lyon-Rhone.

Here's a quote from AVF's website to give you an idea of their mission:"Greetings to the new résidents of Lyon and its surrounding area. If you have just arrived in our beautiful region for work or retirement then Accueil des Villes Françaises, an association based 5 place de la Baleine, in the 5th district welcomes you from Monday to Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM.  You will meet people like you, expats and French people coming back to France, around a coffee or during an evening aperitif. With various activities, Accueil des Villes Françaises will help you quickly to make friends, something difficult to do when you first arrive in e new area. We look forward to meeting you."