'I watched the total solar eclipse in Spain – I have only one word to describe it'

The incredible moment the sky plunged into darkness during the total solar eclipse was captured in Spain as awed spectators watched the rare spectacle unfold. Northern Spain was directly in the path of totality, meaning spectators were able to see the Sun completely obscured by the Moon. In Miranda de Ebro, the eclipse began at around 7.33pm local time before totality arrived shortly after 8.28pm and lasted for around 90 seconds.

The path of totality crossed Spain from west to east, passing through areas including A Coruna, Leon, Bilbao, Zaragoza and Valencia. Almost the entire northern half of mainland Spain experienced totality, while the south saw a partial eclipse. Deputy Travel Editor Milo Boyd was among those watching from Miranda de Ebro, 27 years after experiencing the 1999 eclipse as a seven-year-old in Devon.

This year’s spectacle offered him the chance to make up for that frustrating first experience, when clouds previously spoiled his view.

Recalling his first experience, Milo added: “I still faintly remember the 1999 eclipse. Aged seven, my memories are of hours of traffic getting into Devon, a shockingly early morning to get to the cliff tops and an anxious wait as clouds refused to shift.

“It was amazing seeing the flash bulbs of analogue cameras twinkling across the coastline as the morning fell into darkness, even if tinged by frustration that the weather hadn’t played ball.”

This time, the clouds stayed away and Milo finally got the view he had hoped for.

Milo said: “This time around, 27 years later and a few hundred miles to the south in Spain, everything fell into place, perfectly.

“The approach to totality is slow. First the Moon takes a nibble out of the Sun, then turns it into PAC Man, before half is gone, three quarters, a slither, and then darkness.

“The Sun holds on for a long time – just the outermost edges of a Jaffa Cake visible, and it’s still bathing us in evening light. In its near absence, its power is impossible to miss.”

As totality arrived, those gathered on the hilltop could be seen staring towards the sky before breaking into applause.

Milo continued: “When completely gone, the hilltop I was sat on in Miranda de Ebro didn’t exactly erupt, but broke into low whistles, ohh and ahs.

“Together, the Sun and Moon looked liked they’d poked a black hole into the sky. But just for 90 seconds. A tiny slither of Sun, and the day was back.”

Giving his verdict to the incredible spectacle, he added: “Glorious.”

Spain will not have to wait long for another chance to experience totality. A second total solar eclipse will cross the southern tip of the country on August 2, 2027.