‘The first of our lives’: Thousands in Spain rush for best spot to watch total solar eclipse (3/4)

On the eve of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse, Spain, which is set to offer some of the best views in mainland Europe, was buzzing with excitement. Thousands of people were travelling to find the best location to witness a rare few minutes – sometimes even seconds – of darkness. Madrid, which lies outside the path of totality – the brief moment when the sun is completely blocked – felt particularly quiet as the capital emptied of residents flocking to see the eclipse in regions in northern and eastern Spain. With just one day to go, social media posts in groups for eclipse chasers were growing fast. Read moreEclipse chasers: When chasing totality becomes a way of life (1/4) “I’m going to watch the total solar eclipse from Almazan,” a medieval town in the province of Soria, Daniel Ostrowski wrote in a Facebook group, in a post with a photo of a sunset taken on Sunday evening from Madrid’s Cerro del Tio Pio park. Many trains at Madrid-Chamartín-Clara Campoamor station are fully booked on the eve of the eclipse on August 12. © Pauline Rouquette, FRANCE 24 “Is anyone else planning to watch it from there too, and come back straight afterwards?” he asked. Almazan lies some 200 kilometres...