Comment by mcv

That was because it was just before sunset; it was going to go dark soon anyway.

I think it's more spectacular overhead. I also watched an eclipse in northern France long ago (it may have been 1999), and that was overhead. Unfortunately very cloudy, so it was more like the mothership from the movie Independence Day was hovering just above the clouds. That one did see animals go quiet, and eerie feeling (despite the clouds), and then everything turning back to normal.

But just for once I'd like to see a total eclipse without clouds.