I planned for this year's eclipse two years in advance, and it was a bit disappointing: the eclipse, just before sunset, disappeared behind some wisps of clouds just before the totality.
Now I'm wondering if this is as good as it's likely to get, or if I should book again for next year. Honestly, the idea of combining Tatooine with an eclipse sounds awesome, but that particular trip is already sold out.
I didn't need to plan because we live right in the totality path of this year's eclipse. But our experience was similar... it was a great day, forecasts were good, but half an hour before totality black clouds began to form right in front of the sun. It was too late to try to go elsewhere, because traffic in the city was cut due to the eclipse. Result, we didn't see anything (even though people in places just a few kilometers away saw it just fine). It sucked, although it must have been even worse for those of you who needed to plan and travel.
I got mad and that same night, ragebooked a flight and hotel in the south of Spain for next year's one, at that point I still managed to find something that was only somewhat overpriced but not outrageously so. If next year's plan also fails somehow, it will be a signal that I need to go to Beijing in 2035.
Totality is unbeliveable. You have the urge to start a religion. For some reason the images you see on videos are by far not as impacting as the real thing. That said, a single tiny cloud can ruin everything, but in my case it was espectacular what I saw when the sun, the noon, the earth and me were aligned.
>Totality is unbeliveable. You have the urge to start a religion.
Meh! This is what I'd heard and what I was hoping for (though certainly not counting on). In the end it was little more than a beautiful sight. A genuinely stunning sight, no arguments about that. But there was no "eerie wind". The birds and insects did not "go crazy" (they continued chirping as if nothing was up). The experience did not move me metaphysically. But again: a very beautiful sight indeed.
> I planned for this year's eclipse two years in advance, and it was a bit disappointing: the eclipse, just before sunset, disappeared behind some wisps of clouds just before the totality.
On the other hand, we didn't plan at all, threw some plans together the same day, ended up on the top of a parking lot from Mercadona outside of Tarragona somewhere, and it was magical, about 60 seconds of clear totality and no clouds as far as the eye could see :)
Do it, worst case scenario you've seen more places in the world!
>Do it, worst case scenario you've seen more places in the world!
There is a cost to be paid - somewhere, by someone - of mindless travel. I know this is not a popular position but it's true.
I would correct your advice to: "Do it if you are not too far away". Otherwise enjoy the photos. The real thing is not so very different. I speak from experience too.
Yeah, sorry for not being inclusive enough to the people on the other side of the planet :) I'd also advise people with very late pregnancy to not board an airplane to fly here either, and people without legs might want to figure out transportation far ahead, and people not liking big groups might prefer more secluded areas instead of cities.
But yes, YMMV depending on your personal circumstance, don't do it regardless of other constraints you might have :)
That wasn't my point at all.