- Eclipse-chasers are flocking to Spain, with one family flying 5,000 miles from Dallas to north-central Spain for the event. Charlie, the father, said: "I woke my son up this morning and the first thing he said to me was, ‘Happy Eclipse Day.’"
- Burgos was chosen as the ideal base for the event due to the highest probability of clear skies, and the group will witness about 100 seconds of totality at a secret site on private land 25km outside Burgos.
- Accommodation prices have surged due to the eclipse, with the last room at Hostel Olalla selling for €400 (£342) – five times the normal August price, and every room at the NH Collection Hotel booked years ago by New Scientist Discovery Tours.
- The path of totality will cross Spain, affecting many cities and regions, including Burgos, Bilbao, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Tarragona, Valencia, and Mallorca, while Madrid and Barcelona are outside the path.
- Dr Smith, an anaesthetist, planned his retirement around the eclipse, saying: "I planned my retirement about six years ago, and I realised there was going to be an eclipse three weeks afterwards, so I said: ‘That’s what I’m going to do. That’s going to be my retirement present.’ And in the meantime, I met Vicki, so we’re doing it together."
Eclipse enthusiasts are converging on Spain, particularly in Burgos, where the solar eclipse promises 100 seconds of totality. Families like Charlie's, who traveled 5,000 miles from Dallas, are part of a larger trend as accommodations sell out at inflated prices.123
“I woke my son up this morning and the first thing he said to me was, ‘Happy Eclipse Day.’” Charlie's excitement reflects the event's allure, with many travelers seeking the best views.
Dr. Mason, an eclipse veteran, noted, “Once you’ve seen one total eclipse, you want to see another. They become incredibly addictive.” He has witnessed 22 eclipses, each offering unique experiences.
The path of totality stretches across northern Spain, with cities like Valladolid, Zaragoza, and Valencia also in line for the spectacle. Dr. Smith, who planned his retirement around this eclipse, remarked, “I realised there was going to be an eclipse three weeks afterwards, so I said: ‘That’s what I’m going to do’.”6789
As anticipation builds, local businesses are capitalizing on the influx of visitors, with the last room at the modest Hostel Olalla selling for €400 (£342), five times the normal rate. Burgos is deemed the ideal location for clear skies, making it a prime spot for eclipse chasers.
“Accommodation prices have surged, with the last room at Hostel Olalla selling for €400 (£342), five times the normal August price. Dr Mason, on his 22nd total eclipse, says they become addictive, and Dr Smith planned his retirement around the event.”
