Melilla

Melilla is one of the two autonomous cities owned by Spain that are located on the northern coast of Africa. It is technically situated inside of Morocco, but is separated from Moroccan territory by a large fence which runs along the entirety of the city’s border. To get an idea of where Melilla is located with respect to the rest of Europe, the following link has a good map:

http://www.melillaturismo.com/plano_europa.htm

Despite the physical boundary separating the Spanish enclave from the rest of Africa, there is a beautiful mix of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and a small number of Hindus. It is really interesting to see how Melilla’s inhabitants coexist, which results in an interesting cultural exchange.

Brian and I went there to visit a dear friend of mine, Mari Carmen, and her family most graciously opened their doors to share their beautiful city with us. It was an incredible experience that we will most certainly never forget.