Total Solar Eclipse 2006 in Turkey

In 2006, I visited Turkey with a group of enthusiast eclipse chasers to see the total solar eclipse of March 29.  the trip was organized by the Europlanetarium in Genk, Belgium (now known as Cosmodrome).

We flew to Antalya and started a round-trip through the beautiful Turkey.  We visited the ruins of Perge and Aspendos in the neighbourhood of Antalya and traveled to the mountains to visit the ruins of Sagalassos.  These were all very nice places to seem but the highlight of the trip had to wait one more day: the total solar eclipse!

Sadly, I became sick the evening before the eclipse.  When we arrived in the hotel, I crawled into bed with fewer very early.  Luckily, I felt already better on the morning of the solar eclipse.  The weather was very nice, so that was one thing less to worry about.  I took pictures with my Canon EOS 350D, with a 200mm lens.  I brought the Vixen 20x80 binoculars again for visual observations.  Already early on during the partial phase, we knew that we would have an unobstructed view of totality.

The last minutes before totality, the light became very special.  It looks a bit like the evening dawn, but on the other hand, it is very different.  During the solar eclipse of 1999, I had the same feeling.  Once the light is turned off and totality starts, it was really enjoyable!  The corona is so splendid.  After 3 min 30 sec, we could enjoy the beautiful diamond ring.  What a brilliant experience!

After the totality, we enjoyed a bottle of champagne.  Soon after the solar eclipse, I felt worse again and in the evening, I went again to bed early.  The rest of the trip I felt a bit sick.  We also visited Goreme, Konya, Pamukkale and Aphrodisias.  Back at home, the doctor gave me an extra week of holidays...