Ceuta the Spanish enclave in North Africa.
To our experiences and travels whilst on National Service with REME in Gibraltar.
If we had a weekend free we could also go over to" Ceuta"
on the drive on drive of Transbordador ferry "Virgen de Africa"
from Algeceiras.
Cars were already aboard and a number of Spanish Officers can be seen waiting to board the ferry.
Arrival in Ceuta the Virgen de Africa can be seen at the end of the quay
Ceuta 1953 with Mosque in foreground
Plaza Des Toros at Ceuta,
You can see the ticket openings for purchasing tickets if you wish to sit in the
Sun (Sol) or Shade (Sombre)
Ceuta is a
Spanish enclave in North Africa located on the northern tip of
Morocco on the Mediterranean coast, practically opposite Gibraltar, it
is known in Arabic as (Sebta)
It
is administered by the Cádiz Province of Spain.
It
is one of two remaining fragments of long time Spanish presence in North Africa.
The
business structure for Ceuta which is home to one of Spain's largest military
bases, (a number of officers can be seen in the picture waiting to board the
ferry to return to Ceuta) is tax free trade, fuel supplies to passing ships, small scale industries,
fishing (mainly sardines and anchovies), as well as different forms of smuggling
which has been going on for many years.
Inhabitants
of Ceuta - Moroccans
Ceuta is
occupied by mainly Moroccan people speaking Arabic and Spanish, whilst over
centuries with many people coming over to Ceuta from Gibraltar many can speak a
little English.
It has also been a smuggling area over many years, to avoid border controls men swim along the coast line late at night towing their possessions or contraband with them, many lose their life doing so and are ultimately washed on the shore.
We had made arrangements to meet our girl friends the following weekend subject to us not being on any duties. Fortunately we were free, I went over the border early on the Saturday morning to see them and arrange tickets for Ceuta. I purchased our tickets and gave the girls theirs. We met them a little later in La Linea, caught the bus to Algeceiras and walked to the Ferry. We told the girls to get on the Ferry first as there were always Guardia Civile officers checking peoples papers, if they saw them with us they may have had questions for us. They walked on ok, after their papers and tickets had been checked. We showed our passports, which they stamped and took our outward-bound ticket; we were nearly on our way to Ceuta. The Ferry sailed later, we were on our way, after we disembarked at Ceuta the girls took us through the town to find a hotel, they had been there a few times and knew their way around. We found a small hotel just near the town, went in and booked two rooms, at reception the Moroccan gentleman took the girls to their room, and our room was on the next floor, little did he know that we would be changing around late at night.
Our girl friends who came over with us for the weekend took us to a very sparsely lit basement of Ceuta's Legion Museum, there was an older legionnaire type who followed us around, we looked at various relics and a velvet-lined case displaying a sword that was believed to be owned by Spain's 20th-century dictator, Generalisimo Francisco Franco also other various items, like soldiers helmets and bloodstained Spanish flags. They also took us to a restaurant cellar where hot tapas like boquerones (small fried fish) were served, also cheese and ham tapas, grilled prawns. Flamenco dancing and guitars were being played and went on until the early hours of the morning in this place, everyone seemed to be consuming plenty of drinks by the joviality.
There is a superb view across the straights from the Fort below.
Fortin-Desnarigado--Ceuta
Overlooking the Straights.
Visit to MEKNES, North Africa.