Augsburg is a large town (about 300,000 inhabitants?) in Bavaria on the main rail line to Munich but far enough from Munich (about an hour away) to be pretty independent of Munich.

I went to Augsburg in August of 1999 to view the total eclipse. All the goverments had big safety campaigns warning people not to look at the sun except with special European-Community approved eclipse glasses. When I got to the hotel, the receptionist advised me that the safest thing to do was probably to draw the blinds and stay in the room with my eyes closed.

Although Augsburg is noted for clear skies, most of Europe was under overcast skies the day of the eclipse. As it turned out, at the spot where I was, there was a big patch of blue sky right from about 45 minutes before totality, with the edge of a cloud reaching the sun just about at totality. Still, it got dark enough that you could plainly see the lighted cigarettes of the people across the street.

In spite of it having been the subject of a cartoon, a view from the Pulverturm (gun-powder tower) would have been good for the eclipse. Here you can see the cloudy skies the day before.

The eclipse was on a Wednesday. The planned party the night before did not gel, but once the eclipse was over then people were in a good mood and partying began everywhere. At this restaurant, Lisa sang (very well) for most of the afternoon.

Now we go back to photos from May of 1999. Here's the quieter end of Maximilianstrasse.

Here's the quieter end of Maximilianstrasse.

One of the side streets was a little dark and cold, but seemed to have a tradition of dragons. Here's one of the signs.

This pizza-restaurant was a couple of doors from the dragon-smith.

In a large bookstore, this woman was in costume, ready to read stories to children.

on to France photos

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