Now I'm wondering if this is as good as it's likely to get, or if I should book again for next year. Honestly, the idea of combining Tatooine with an eclipse sounds awesome, but that particular trip is already sold out.
I got mad and that same night, ragebooked a flight and hotel in the south of Spain for next year's one, at that point I still managed to find something that was only somewhat overpriced but not outrageously so. If next year's plan also fails somehow, it will be a signal that I need to go to Beijing in 2035.
Meh! This is what I'd heard and what I was hoping for (though certainly not counting on). In the end it was little more than a beautiful sight. A genuinely stunning sight, no arguments about that. But there was no "eerie wind". The birds and insects did not "go crazy" (they continued chirping as if nothing was up). The experience did not move me metaphysically. But again: a very beautiful sight indeed.
I think it's more spectacular overhead. I also watched an eclipse in northern France long ago (it may have been 1999), and that was overhead. Unfortunately very cloudy, so it was more like the mothership from the movie Independence Day was hovering just above the clouds. That one did see animals go quiet, and eerie feeling (despite the clouds), and then everything turning back to normal.
But just for once I'd like to see a total eclipse without clouds.
On the other hand, we didn't plan at all, threw some plans together the same day, ended up on the top of a parking lot from Mercadona outside of Tarragona somewhere, and it was magical, about 60 seconds of clear totality and no clouds as far as the eye could see :)
Do it, worst case scenario you've seen more places in the world!
There is a cost to be paid - somewhere, by someone - of mindless travel. I know this is not a popular position but it's true.
I would correct your advice to: "Do it if you are not too far away". Otherwise enjoy the photos. The real thing is not so very different. I speak from experience too.
But yes, YMMV depending on your personal circumstance, don't do it regardless of other constraints you might have :)
But it's easy to blame the individual, rather than the larger problems, probably because you can't really write directly to "Larger Problems" and get that off your chest, but it's much easier when it comes to individuals.
My arguments are "easy"? What's even easier is to blame politicians, and corporations, and systems, and basically anyone and anything but oneself. In the end we're all in this together and every action will count.
*https://www.lechotouristique.com/article/quota-de-4-vols-par...
As for next summer's eclipse, I recommend you forget Tunisia and just go to Tangier, opposite Gibraltar! It's a quick hop on a catamaran from Tarifa. Morocco is good value and much better set up for independent tourism. And Tangier is right on the line of the eclipse, from memory it will be a full 4 minutes there! Should be quite special if the clouds stay at bay.
Tangier is absolutely also an option. In fact, doesn't the totality also pass over parts of Spain? But I figured that might be too expensive and crowded. I thought Tunis has been doing reasonably well lately (though I haven't been keeping up to date) and it has the advantage of also having Star Wars-related locations to visit.
But I haven't looked into any details at all yet. I'll keep all of this in mind.