Matthew Barroso (middle) convinced friends to drive from Atlanta to Dallas for the eclipse. Barroso witnessed the partial eclipse in 2017 while a student at Georgia Tech and regretted not making the drive to see totality. Photo by Emma Ruby.
Around one million people were expected to visit Texas today to witness the total solar eclipse, and many out of town travelers landed in the Bishop Arts District for the celestial event.
And, whether it was their first time witnessing totality or their fifth, all were equally awe inspired.
Correcting mistakes
Matthew Barroso was a student at Georgia Tech University when the 2017 solar eclipse took place. Living in Atlanta, he was just outside the path of totality and said he “regretted” not driving to see the “full deal.”
It was a mistake he wasn’t willing to make twice, so Barroso convinced several friends to make the drive from Atlanta to Dallas with him over the weekend. They decided to watch from Bishop Arts at the recommendation of a friend who lives in Lubbock. Barroso said the neighborhood’s lights were “so beautiful” once the darkness of totality hit.
After witnessing full coverage, he now feels that eclipses are an “all or nothing” experience.
“It was just so surreal,” Barroso said. “My heart was pounding, literally. (A partial view) just cannot compare.”
A new tradition
Amy Jorgenson saw a total solar eclipse back when she was in elementary school in the 70s, but she “doesn’t really remember” it. Eamon Rice saw totality in 2017 for “about 17 seconds” on the side of a highway.
Residents of Twin Cities, Minnesota Amy Jorgenson and Eamon Rice said the drive to Dallas for the eclipse was “totally worth it.” Photo by Emma Ruby.
So even if Monday’s eclipse was both of the Twin Cities residents’ second totality viewings, it was “100 times better” than what they’d experienced before.
“I was just so happy we made the trip,” Jorgenson said. “I would have been happy even if it was cloudy, but it was just the cherry on top that it cleared.”
The duo set up on the corner of Madison and Ninth — a spot that they accidentally stumbled upon but was “perfect” for their viewing — with bubbles and lawn chairs. Rice wore a welding mask that he bought for the 2017 eclipse, rather than the protective glasses more commonly seen.
After the eclipse, he was overwhelmed by what he’d felt when it reached totality.
“I don’t even know if I understand it yet, but I’m drinking it in,” Rice said. “The 2033 eclipse in Alaska is in our calendars. We’re going to do a cruise.”
Spending it with someone special
Paul Solon grew up in Dallas and now lives in Washington D.C. He witnessed totality during the 2017 eclipse, when he watched from North Carolina, and instantly understood the difference between seeing a partial or total eclipse.
“It’s not even the same,” Solon said. “It’s magical. Probably the most magical thing besides seeing the birth of my daughters.”
Sharing their father’s interest in the celestial, Solon’s twin daughters witnessed the 2022 total lunar eclipse from Machu Picchu. But what brought Solon to Dallas, specifically, for this year’s eclipse, was his mother.
Solon’s 97-year-old mother lives in the St. Joseph’s Residence assisted living facility just south of Bishop Arts. He said the last eclipse she saw was in 1934.
“I wanted to experience that feeling with my mother before she died,” Solon said.
Just before the eclipse began, he had over two dozen pairs of glasses ready to pass out to residents of St. Joseph’s for a watch party.
The professionals
Steve and Andrea from New York were set up outside of Tejas two hours before totality began.
Decked out in the commemorative gear of eclipses past, the couple had their glasses on long before most others. When I asked about his 1998 Total Solar Eclipse Aruba T-Shirt, Steve said to be “quick, because it’s happening.”
I got out of their hair, right after finding out they have traveled to Mexico, China, Wyoming and Aruba for total eclipse viewing opportunities.
“It’s always a great experience,” said Steve, before tilting his head back towards the sky.
Steve and Andrea, New York residents, viewed their fifth total eclipse from the corner of Bishop and Ninth. Photo by Emma Ruby.
