Diane and I spent the morning exploring León; we managed to find the remains of the old Jewish Quarter and visit the town market in Plaza Mayor. Normally, I’d write a bit more about that, but we just got back from the Leyenda del Páramo winery, the site of our eclipse viewing session, and it’s after midnight, so the rest of the day will have to wait.
We had great (if very hot) weather, a perfect viewing site, and good conditions.
This is the third total eclipse Diane and I have seen, and I hope it’s not the last!
Terrific photos – this is the closest I have ever felt to being there. Three total eclipses and counting . . . what keeps drawing you on? what do you like most, best? what is the experience like for you (both)?
The experience is indescribable, primal, and very surreal. During the lead-up to totality, things get *strange* – it’s bright and dim at the same time and shadows get sharper and sharper. In the last minute, you can almost see the shadow of the moon approach (the horizon in the right direction is darker than the rest of the horizon). Then, suddenly, there’s a black spot in the sky where the sun should be (with a corona, of course), and it’s dark!
We’ve done all three of our eclipse trips with a group from MIT, led by Rick Binzel, and he (and they) are definitely part of the attraction, too, but the eclipse, brief as it is, is the main attraction.