Melilla Off The Beaten Path

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The Melilla-Morocco border is a crazy place: people everywhere, bribery, corruption, thinly disguised smuggling. We decided we wanted to see the infamous border fence, but not at the crossing point. We wanted to see the fence without all the fuss...so we headed North-Westwards out of town, past the Central Market right off the tourist map and turning right at the roundabout at the top of the hill towards the Spanish Legion headquarters and surrounding territory on the coast. Once you pass the Legion building, keep walking into a pine forest, and at the far end of that forest lies the border fence. Patrolled on both sides, although more obviously by the Moroccans, the fence itself is unmistakable as a border fence...three layers thick, which a meshwork of steel cable several feet off the ground which would prevent anyone who made it over the first fence from getting a firm footing on the concrete. A clever network of multiple height concrete ditches would prevent anyone from driving through if the fence were compromised. We walked for a way along the fence before the police drove up and told us we shouldn't be on this road and directed us to the viewing platform further into the forest. It was an unusual sight to behold. The Moroccan guards stare back at you bewildered if you get too close, so it's not advisable to push your luck...after all, they have guns! The view from the platform however is adequate and provides a good photo opportunity of the Moroccan coastline and the sea below.