Solar eclipse. “A confirmation of how Earth and the universe work”

Nthe day of the solar eclipse, the company Parques de Sintra opened the space of the lighthouse of Cabo da Roca, with paid entrance and glasses included, and 1,100 people attended the one that is the westernmost point of continental Europe with the sea as horizon.

This was also one of the attractions for Francisco Vargas, a Venezuelan who has lived for 17 years in Portugal and who, in statements to Lusa, pointed out the ease of seeing the eclipse, in the absence of buildings or trees.

Mariana, Francisco, but also Madalena, Sonia and Adriana, the three of Sintra, arrived by bus to avoid parking, barely knowing that to leave the lighthouse, by car or bus, it would take almost two hours.

When they spoke to Lusa, even before the beginning of the eclipse, who already knew it was going to be “something fast”, they said excited. “I hope it’s cute, it’s something that doesn’t happen every day.”.

Magdalena was just sorry it didn't get all dark. It arrived almost at the time when the eclipse began, after 18:00 (beginning at 18:39), like many other people, most of them sitting by the stonestone, many others outside the paid room, some even with hats and beach chairs, although on a short sunny day and much wind.

Mariana Lima was already installed by then. Two wooden stools for the parents, a term with water, cold clothing, juices and cakes. “We decided to come, we had no glasses anywhere and here we could do both, have glasses and enjoy the experience.” I had seen it in 1999, but this eclipse was special, because the sun was going to get “more dull”.

Zé, the son, said that it would “be dark”, and Maria, the daughter, which is something that happens only once in life and that is to be enjoyed.

With many families in the yard, it was the most anxious children. And if one of them asked if the dogs would bark when the light came, another explained to the father the eclipse: “I know where the moon is, the moon comes from above and eats the sun.”.

And when he began to “eat”, at 6:39 p.m., everyone had already tried the special glasses to see the eclipse, some at the entrance to the enclosure, others trying to make “selfies” with their glasses on, others testing us with their phones, some speaking French, others Spanish, a group speaking Ukrainian.

Some took blankets, some brought champagne, some brought a telescope. And those who said “it’s an emotion”, those who just said “brutal”, or those who just looked, the sunlight getting yellower and yellower.

"It's really amazing." And at 7:36, at the most of the eclipse, the sunlight still always present, clapped. Most people started leaving the place at the time. In a corner, the empty and tidy champagne glasses, in the middle of space Francisco Vargas and the woman remained seated, glasses put on, their children and a friend there.

“ An incredible experience to live in the family, a confirmation of how Earth and the universe work,” he said, enthusiastic, also talking about what is done to know when the eclipse occurs and at what time, or the descent of temperature

And that's what you expected? “It was. It’s not total, but it’s impressive,” says Lusa the physics teacher, who says there’s a lot of information about the use of glasses but doesn’t mind being with them for long because he wants to enjoy it.

After all, it's not every day that the moon comes from above and eats the sun.