ARE YOU AN UMBRAPHILE?

How goes the Iran War?  Depends on who is doing the talking.

• There is a definite lull, and mediators are active.
• Oil prices dropped today,  with the stock market mixed.
• Israel President Benjamin Netanyahu is meeting a with Trump tomorrow, then attend the funeral Senator Lindsey Graham in the Capitol.

From Time magazine this morning (billboard below in Teheran):

The Iran and Ukraine wars are merging

The wars in Iran and Ukraine have been inextricably linked for some time, both by their belligerents and the military hardware they use. But after this week, the lines between them are even more blurred.

For years, Iranian-made Shahed attack drones have rained down on Ukrainian cities. When the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran and those same Shaheds were fired by Tehran at the Gulf, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky stepped in to sell sophisticated drone defense technology that Ukraine had built over the last five years. Russia is Iran’s chief military supplier, and Ukraine would be lost without U.S. weapons.

Then on Saturday, Zelensky said on X that he had intelligence showing “a clear correlation” between Russian satellite surveillance of U.S. bases across the Gulf and Iranian strikes on those bases—strikes that have killed at least three American service members in the latest round of fighting.

Further links:

• This Iranian drone costs around $35,000, but they sell it for as much as $200,000.  
• Cost of Patriot missile to intercept the Shahed?  $4 million to $5 million each.  This is a major problem in the war of attrition between Iran and the U.S.
• However, the U.S. for the first time last week shot down an Iranian Shahed drone using an interceptor drone proven in Ukraine.  The country has shot down more than 1000 Russian Shaheds in their war.  This U.S. Merops system was only recently also sent to the Iranian war.  Cost?  $15,000 per interceptor.

Finally, from  Yahoo News:

Iran and Ukraine wars merge in the Caspian Sea

J.D. Capelouto

Sun, July 26, 2026 at 12:25 PM HST

From Condé Nast Traveler this morning:

Umbraphiles have been planning their travels to see the August 12 total solar eclipse for months now—but if you’re just catching on, a spontaneous eclipse trip is still possible. While many hotels and cruises have sold out, availability along the path of totality still exists.

But it's time to move quickly, as last-minute demand is rising. For example, United has seen searches for flights to Reykjavik increase by more than 20% so far in July for travel leading up to the eclipse. Hotels.com has also recorded substantial year-over-year growth in searches for stays from August 10 to 16. In June, searches were up 115% for Valencia, 75% for Mallorca, and 25% for Reykjavik.

As you look for target destinations, ensure they're within the path of totality. Anything less than 100% coverage won't provide the same dramatic experience as totality. You can find a map here. Many of these destinations still have bookable accommodations. "There's still availability along the path of totality, with prices ranging from $285 in Valencia to over $600 in Reykjavik," says Hotels.com travel expert Melanie Fish.

The path of totality will cross over wide swaths of the ocean, making cruise ships an ideal viewing platform—and many still have cabins available. A benefit here is that cruise ships can reposition themselves easily to search for clear skies. Here are some cruises with cabins left:

• 
  Holland America Line: Lisbon to Athens, August 9–22, from $2,280
• Windstar Cruises: Rome to Barcelona, August 6–13, from $2,822

• 
  Silversea: Nice to Nice, August 6–12, from $12,300
• HX: Greenland, Iceland and Svalbard, August 3–19, from $17.788  (We will be on the Silversea Whisper on our way home from Vancouver too Hawaii.)

• 
  New Scientist Discovery Tours: Iceland to Greenland, August 7–19, from $19,530
• Quark Expeditions: Iceland to Greenland, August 3–19, from $29,590

I asked Google AI why this Quark Expedition cruise is so expensive:

The Quark Expeditions total solar eclipse voyage is expensive due to extreme remote High Arctic logistics, rare astronomical timing, and specialized ice-class ship operations. Prices start around $29,590 USD for their 17-day itineraries. [1, 2, 3]

If you can't make it this year, umbraphiles, next year will be The Eclipse of the Century!  From Google AI:

The 2027 total solar eclipse, happening on August 2, 2027, is nicknamed the "Eclipse of the Century" because it features an extraordinarily long duration of totality—peaking at 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor, Egypt. It will be the longest land-based total solar eclipse until the year 2114. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Details & Path

Date: Monday, August 2, 2027 [1]
Path of Totality: Crosses southern Spain, Gibraltar, northern Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Somalia. [1, 2]
Maximum Duration Point: Luxor, Egypt (6 minutes, 22 to 23 seconds). [1, 2, 3]
European Locations: Southern Spanish cities like Cádiz (approx. 2 minutes 56 seconds of totality) and the Rock of Gibraltar (over 4 minutes). [1]

Hurricane Fausto should weaken into a tropical storm tomorrow, and ease north of the Hawaiian Islands the next day (Wednesday).

A stronger hurricane, Genevieve, is now a Category 5 at 160 MPH, but should begin to weaken.  The path will take her into colder waters sufficiently east and north of Hawaii.

Tropical storm Dolphin formed southwest of Japan, should become a typhoon tomorrow, and quickly attain Category 5 strength the next day.  At this time the eye should be far north of the Northern Marianas and Guam, and seems headed for Japan.

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