a week in spain, and the main event was of course the eclipse!
seeing a total solar eclipse has been on our list for years, but i think it rose higher on the list in the last decade or so, as the US saw a couple of them that missed us here in europe. seeing videos from our favourite youtubers about their experiences of a total eclipse solidified the goal and the certainty that, if one ever came near us, we’d go see it. and would there ever be a better chance than when the eclipse comes to your neighbors across the border? so, a couple of years ago, we put it on the calendar and started planning.
we scouted a few locations on the days before the main event, and landed next to a field of sunflowers… with dozens of others who had the same idea. initially, we thought we’d like the quiet solitude, but there’s a kind of magic in being with others too in this kind of events.
and the eclipse itself was beautiful, of course. it’s hard to explain, even when you’ve seen it with your own eyes. when the moon finally positions itself in front of the sun and you finally take your glasses off, all you see is this huge white corona stretching outwards from a black circle… whoa. rationally, you know what is going to happen, but at the same time you feel like a pre-historic peasant fearing the end of the world (what did i do that angered the gods…?!).
it felt a little bit like the earthquake in sichuan — like something unstoppable, humungous and completely outside of your control is happening around you. it feels immense, and it makes you feel tiny too, like your life and your petty problems are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. the planets and stars will align and do their thing, regardless of your worries and dramas.
and somehow it also feels really emotional, to be alive and able to see this thing happen, and to share in the beauty and joy and amazement with others. a bit like this.
so i’m glad we went to see it, and i think we’ll probably try to catch a few more in our lifetime, if we can, and bring others with us. other than that, the week was just work, some spanish meals and the very cuddly cat we shared the apartment with in valladolid. :)
