Stories about Benahavís – John Julius Reels – Costa News Spain

As part of the ‘Stories about Benahavís’ series of talks, John Julius Reels presents ‘The Foreign vs. The Familiar.

John Julius Reel was born in New York and has been living with his Sevillian partner, two bilingual sons, and their Sevillian mother for the past fifteen years. His talk will be centered on how and when the familiar and foreign can merge, blur and even exchange places during an international journey.

Using snippets from his memoir, ‘My Half Orange,’ he will focus on various aspects of culture—ways and manners, home life, street life, daily habits, holidays, food, religion, language, history, sexual politics, and civic pride – and will also ask for participation from the audience.

‘Praise for My Half Orange: A Story of Love and Language in Seville,’ published by Tortoise Books (Chicago 2023). John Julius Reel is as close to the core as anyone can be: he married a sevillana and has a privileged perspective on what it means to be Spanish. — Chris Stewart, author of the Driving Over Lemons series.

The ‘Stories about Benahavís’ series of talks, is an exciting series aimed at the English-speaking community of Benahavís and will feature five sessions by distinguished speakers, with special appearances by Esther Ráez for both the opening and closing events throughout 2025. All speakers will incorporate relevant and interesting historical insights about the history, life, or culture of Benahavís, providing a deeper understanding of the municipality’s rich heritage.

John’s presentation will take place at 5:30 pm on March 25 in the Benahavís Town Hall Auditorium (Salón de Actos), except for the opening session, which will be held at The House of Flow, located on the town’s main street (Avenida de Andalucía, 9, Benahavís).

There is no registration needed for admission.