The location in Adventsdalen outside Longyearbyen on Svalbard was immaculate - cloudless and white mountains. But very cold! During totality it dropped to minus 20 celsius, and operating equipment with mittens was a challenge.
The totality was incredibly beautiful, and perhaps because it was so low in the sky, my brain interpreted is as really large with an even larger than normal corona - just as with the full moon rising - it looks so big, but is same size as when right overhead.
The crowds were crying, yelling, jumping - it was such a magical moment that simply lasted too short! Words cannot explain the magic, no photo can communicate the experience, and it's very hard not to cry in joy, as this is so magical!
I can understand how people throughout history have been frightened during a total eclipse. In fact it looks like the sun has been swallowed by a black hole!
This is not my first eclipse, yet I felt like it was! I want another one. I am hooked!