Eugene Balie’s humbling job at the top of Cape Town
Eugene Balie, who is responsible for cable car operations.
“Being on top of Table Mountain makes you see how small you are in the scheme of things, when you see how big the world is from up there,” says Table Mountain Aerial Cableway operator, Eugene Balie.
Eugene Balie first went up the Cableway as a child; he never thought that, one day, he’d operate the cable cars.
Born 25 years ago in Cape Town, he started working as a cable car operator two months ago.
Eugene’s day starts at 07h30, and, depending on how busy the Cableway is, sometimes ends at 22h30, but this doesn’t bother this energetic man.
His responsibilities include working on the cabin, ushering guests into the cable car, operating the cable car, escorting guests to the mountain and telling them about it, as well as chatting with guests after their trip up.
Eugene says he took the job at the Cableway because he is an avid hiker, and wanted to explore the mountain more.
“I had taken many pictures up the mountain, so when the opportunity to work at the cable car came, I took it with both hands.”
The friendly face that welcomes thousands of Table Mountain visitors every year.
He says of the ride in the car: “Table Mountain dominates Cape Town’s landscape; from up there one can look down onto the city, and there is no greater feeling than being a thousand metres above sea level.”
What Eugene enjoys most about his job is chatting with tourists and locals who are going up in the cable car for the first time.
“I love it when people return from the mountain bubbling with enthusiasm and happiness. They are excited to share their experience with you and they take time to thank you for helping them experience something so beautiful.”
Asked how he would sell the cable car to someone who has never been up in it, Eugene laughs and says, “Cableway, taking you to greater heights!”
Being a cabin operator is a humbling experience for him.
“Our daily lives are so busy we end up living a boxed existence; when you are up in the cable car you see the city from above, and it inspires you to reach for greater heights.”
One of the most heart-warming moments for him was escorting a 91-year-old British tourist, who’d first travelled the cable way as a child, and returned again as an elderly man.
“The man from Britain was overwhelmed after his trip. He wouldn’t stop telling me how great it was. I was touched.”
In the next few years, Eugene will be sharing more experiences with people taking this magical journey up in the cable car.
Comments
great story :)
Go Eugene!
Good morning all…
Eugene, we went to varsity together and I’ve been searching for you for quite a while.
Please mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
If you know Eugene, could you please do me the favour and pass this on to him?
Thank you
My family and I went up on Table Mountain 13th February and we got to meet Eugene, what a fantastic friendly person! great sence of humour and personel touch. You sure are a asset!
Nice story… you make us proud Eugene to be capetonian!
Great story Eugene, thanks for carrying the Cableway flag so high!
Eugene reminds me a lot of myself, all the feelings that he expresses are the ones i had when i started to work at the Cable car twenty four years ago at Gibraltar, i am still working there but my duties have changed,I am no longer an attendant, i have climed up the ladder and through the years of experience working with the swiss engineers have become the cable car engineer myself, i am also incharge of all operations. I do miss the days that i used to deal with customers and help them in any way i could, still, i love my work,you bring back to me great memories Eugene.
Very nice and informative article. Keep up the good work. I really enjoyed reading it.
Great Blog, he’d definately get a job in Cheltnham lol!
Hi Eugene. Keep up the good work. Andrew and I will definitely make a turn when we are back in Cape Town.
Thank you for sharing. I love your blog. Keep up the good work Eugene. Regards, Bert