Ceuta

Ceuta is a Spanish exclave in North Africa, one of two, the other is Melilla. You reach it by taking the ferry from Algeciras. This is the world’s shortest intercontinental crossing, just nine miles separates Europe from Africa at this point. Ceuta is a territory in the economic doldrums. The port facilities are basic and much of the employment is public sector. If you go up to the frontier with Morocco there is a sign reading ‘Spain’. This maintains the metropolitan Spain fantasy. There is a foreign legion based here too. The Spanish variety admits women, which sort of defeats the object. Because this is a bit of the EU in Africa the whole territory is fenced off and patrolled to prevent illegal immigration. Ceuta is a very expensive vanity project for Spain and the Spanish taxpayer.