SPAIN - Ceuta

Location - North Africa; Capital - Madrid; Population - Ceuta - 85,000; Spain - 46 million; Currency - Euro MORE CEUTA

Outside the centre there's several places worth checking out, especially the views from both Monte Hacho and Garcia Aldave, along with the beaches - October 2011 and October 2014.

Just like mainland Spain, Ceuta uses the Euro

Make your way to the Parque de San Amaro on the slopes of Monte Hacho for superb views of the city, including the mountainous Garcia Aldave (Spain) and Jebel Musa behind (Morocco) - Ceuta

Parque San Amaro has a series of walking trails providing great views of the city - Ceuta

The Parque San Amaro links to the road to the Mirador de San Antonio - Ceuta

The Ermita de San Antonio is a convent next to the viewpoint - Ceuta

Across the Mediterranean towards mainland Spain from the viewpoint Mirador de San Antonio - Ceuta

A picture of former Spanish King Juan Carlos hangs in a restaurant near the Mirador de San Antonio - Ceuta

Crossing continents for a hazy view of the Rock of Gibraltar - Ceuta

A gorgeous view of the Mediterranean and mainland Spain from Monte Hacho.
The boat is likely heading towards the Spanish port of Algeciras - Ceuta

The main entrance to Monte Hacho Fortress, a Byzantine fort which is now an off-limits military base - Ceuta

Standing below right of the lighthouse on the south eastern tip of the peninsular is Desnarigado Castle - Ceuta

The 19th century Desnarigado Castle now houses a military museum - Ceuta

Opening hours are a little erratic but it's usually open Monday-Friday mornings - Ceuta

Another site visible from the Mirador de San Antonio is Isla Santa Catalina - Ceuta

..as is the heliport, which connects Ceuta to Algeciras and Malaga in mainland Spain. The enclave has no airstrip, so ferries and helicopters are the transport modes of choice - Ceuta

There's not much publicity about the graffiti-ridden Llano Amarillo monument - Ceuta

It celebrates the defeat of the Republicans by Franco's army in the Spanish Civil War. The monument was moved to Ceuta from Llano Amarillo in Morocco in 1962, a few years after Moroccan independence - Ceuta

Under General Franco, the former leader (and dictator) of Spain, the eagle replaced the royal crown on Spain's coat of arms - Ceuta

Looking to Isla Santa Catalina from the Llano Amarillo monument - Ceuta

The entrance to the Regular Army headquarters - Ceuta

The headquarters hosts the Museo de Regulares (the Regular Army Museum) - Ceuta

No prior permission is needed to visit the museum but, as it's a military zone, soldiers escort visitors from the entrance to the museum - Ceuta

Close by is a statue honouring the Regular Army - Ceuta

The reconstructed remains of the ancient Marinid Walls, built during the Marinid dynasty that ruled Morocco - Ceuta

Muley el Mehdi mosque, on Avenida de Africa - Ceuta

Pantano Renegado is the more attractive of two reservoirs set into the slopes of Garcia Aldave - Ceuta

It's an area of birdlife and also has a kayaking club - Ceuta

Looking northwards from Pantano Renegado - Ceuta

Walking down from Pantano Renegado, Monte Hacho rises above the industrial port area - Ceuta

The Four Cultures of Ceuta - In addition to the Cathedral on Plaza de Africa, Ceuta is also home to the Sidi Embarek Mosque

The Four Cultures of Ceuta - On the left is El Betel Synagogue while on the right is a Hindu temple

Playa Benitez is a beach on the north side of the peninsula, past the ferry terminal - Ceuta

Playa Benitez - Ceuta

The coast continues northwest to the pebbly beaches of Playa Calamocarro and Punta Blanca - Ceuta

Around the corner at Punta Blanca and close to the Moroccan border is the village of Benzu. Jebel Musa is obscured by cloud - Ceuta

The small beach at Benzu - Ceuta

A mosque on the main, and pretty much the only, street in Benzu - Ceuta

Bright colours at Villa Rosa, a private home in Benzu - Ceuta

Keep walking from Benzu and the Moroccan town of Belyounech comes into view

Pull back a bit and you'll see the border fence and watchtower - Ceuta

The border fence separating Ceuta from Belyounech and Morocco

And this is the same border fence as seen from the Moroccan side, with Ceuta behind. Only Belyounech residents with documents to work in Ceuta can use this border - Belyounech

Words of protest in Benzu? Ceuta

The 23km² territory of Ceuta from Mirador de Isabel II

Grab a beer from the restaurant and take in the fantastic views. On the bottom left is Pantano Renegado, mentioned earlier - Ceuta

Rolling down the slopes of Garcia Aldave to the city centre, the port and back up to Monte Hacho - Ceuta

Buildings, buildings and more buildings. A high rise view of Ceuta from Mirador de Isabel II

As darkness descends I take photos of 'Ceuta by Night' but the low cloud affects visibility on a wet and rainy day - Ceuta

A short distance from the viewpoint is Torre Isabel II, one of seven 19th century towers built for the defence of the city - Ceuta

The inside of Torre Isabel II is rather dilapidated. And the dark rooms are a bit spooky! Ceuta

Further on, heading south, is Torre Francisco de Asis - Ceuta

A few minutes further on is Torre de Pinies - Ceuta

I think this one is Torre de Mendizabal - Ceuta

The dirt road below Torre Francisco de Asis leads to a panorama of the Moroccan hills and the border fence - Ceuta

A lone Spanish police car patrols the border road - Ceuta

Carretera Circunvalacion de la Frontera heads over the hill and back down to Benzu. I asked a taxi driver to drive along it but he told me vehicles aren't allowed, save for police, military etc and those living in the area - Ceuta

Sub-Saharan migrants regularly storm the border and as a result razor wire has been added to the fence in both Melilla and Ceuta

A Moroccan flag flies across the valley from Torre Francisco de Asis - Ceuta

A couple of the Moroccan border patrol buildings, located on the hilltop above the border fence - Ceuta

Descending from Belyounech to Fnideq in Morocco gives excellent views of Ceuta. It's also a tempting glimpse for the many sub-Saharan immigrants walking along the Fnideq-Tangiers road who sleep in the hills, hoping to cross the Strait of Gibraltar to mainland Spain - Ceuta

A quick look at the Moroccan side of the border at Bab Sebta.
On foot it usually takes 10-15mins to get through Moroccan immigration, but on one occasion it was around 2hrs (a Saturday morning). Vehicles seem to take an age..

Once out of Morocco the privilege of an EU passport makes its presence felt. Straight through, skipping all the queues along a caged corridor.
Moroccans from the region around Ceuta just need to show ID as proof. The rest? Who knows.. Tarajal, Ceuta

A view of the main border crossing at Tarajal/Bab Sebta. Guardia Civil video of immigrants storming the Tarajal border. Others have drowned attempting to swim around the fence both here and at the Benzu border - Ceuta

Welcome to Spain and the European Union! Or goodbye of course. A visitor sign at the Tarajal border - Ceuta

On the way to the Tarajal border, which is walkable from the centre (though don't bother with heavy luggage!) - Ceuta

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LINKS

www.ceuta.si - tourist guide to Ceuta

www.ceuta.es - in Spanish

www.ceutaturistica.com - in Spanish

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.