When it comes to riding a cable car, some may feel no fear at all. However, as a child, I was paralyzed by terror at the thought of stepping into one. The Scenic Railway at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, located west of Sydney, was enough to send shivers down my spine. A cable car? Absolutely not!

In 2011, we embarked on an adventure to the Werfen Ice Cave in Austria. I was caught off guard, as I had envisioned these caves as mere openings in a glacier. I wish I had been better prepared for this tour.

Werfen's "Eisriesenwelt" [World of Ice Giants] is the largest ice cave globally, extending over 42 km into the mountain, with the first kilometer showcasing breathtaking ice formations accessible to visitors.

Our bus took us partway up the mountain, but then we faced a half-hour hike up a path before a seemingly endless (though only three-minute) cable car ride to the restaurant, followed by another half-hour trek to the cave entrance. By this point, I was thoroughly exhausted, knowing I still had to walk back down.

To endure that three-minute cable car ride, I resorted to shutting my eyes and counting—much like counting sheep, though there were no sheep in sight, just perhaps a few goats. Those three minutes felt eternal, but I was determined not to open my eyes or make a sound other than my counting. Simple yet effective.

While my family admired the stunning views, my sister was ecstatic—she adores cable cars. After an hour of walking and the nerve-wracking cable car ride, we finally reached the mouth of the ice cave. I hesitated to go further, but our guide, Michael, encouraged me, assuring me that since I had made it this far, I could handle the cave. Despite my doubts and having already invested significantly in this tour, I pushed myself onward.

The experience inside the ice cave was far from enjoyable; it was physically taxing. We faced 1,400 steps, some steep and unsteady, all in semi-darkness illuminated only by dim kerosene lanterns. My friend Stacey kept reassuring me that we were almost there for what felt like an eternity, and I doubt I will trust her again. We caught glimpses of a few ice formations, which the guide illuminated with a magnesium taper that had extinguished by the time I arrived. I only remember seeing a polar bear and an elephant as the guide moved on, and I struggled to catch my breath, fearing I might choke without my Epipen—definitely a daunting moment.

An Aussie fireman trailing behind Stacey and me offered encouragement and was ready to assist if needed. It was only during our descent that Michael informed us we were 1,775 meters above sea level, where the thin air made breathing a challenge. It would have been helpful to know that earlier.

The return journey involved retracing our steps, and as we boarded the cable car, some fool began rocking it side to side. Panic set in, and I lashed out with my hiking pole, only to be reminded by Stacey that this was the same guy who had helped us throughout the trek. Overwhelmed, I began to cry, unable to focus on counting anymore. The sole comfort I could muster was that the steps in Santorini would seem like a walk in the park compared to this ordeal.

However, I must confess that the views were the most magnificent I had ever seen. It's difficult to truly appreciate the scenery when you're either frightened or gasping for breath, thinking you might faint or have a heart attack. Once we returned to Salzburg, I was too drained and stressed to eat (which is rare for me!), so I treated myself to a long soak in a hot bath before hitting the bed around 8 PM.

The next day, when my sister announced plans to take the cable car up Untersberg Mountain, I opted out and chose to enjoy the therapeutic thermal baths in Berchtesgaden instead. Ironically, I soon found myself facing yet another cable car ride up to Eagle’s Nest, Hitler’s notorious WWII meeting spot.

After my counting strategy failed at Werfen, I decided to approach the cable car to the top of the Rock of Gibraltar differently. I initially preferred hiking up the trail, but then I was confronted with the greater fear of being attacked by Barbary apes.

This time, I opted for distraction. I switched my iPhone to video mode and filmed the entire ride. I kept my eyes glued to the screen, avoiding looking out or down, and managed to ascend and descend without issue. I felt a sense of pride in conquering my fear, a method I continued to employ whenever anxiety threatened to resurface.

The views from the top of the Rock were spectacular, making my fear of the cable car worthwhile. However, my fear of the Barbary apes became very real when a large one charged toward me. My niece shouted, "Auntie Adrienne, put your phone away! He thinks it's chocolate!" I quickly realized that my phone's stylish case might be tempting.

The ape dashed past me and snatched chocolate from a woman, causing her to scream. A first aid attendant promptly escorted her away for evaluation. I couldn't help but remark to my niece, "How many signs do they need to warn people to eat only in the cafe?" There were numerous warnings in both Spanish and English, but the images were quite alarming.

The breathtaking view took my breath away. I was standing in Europe, gazing toward Africa on the horizon—two continents merely 13 kilometers apart. The Strait of Gibraltar connects the North Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, making Gibraltar a strategically important location in times of conflict. It's no wonder the British are reluctant to relinquish control.

My third strategy for managing my fear of cable cars stemmed from knowledge. Ron, an engineer who worked in South African mines, explained the mechanics behind the cable cars and their tensile strength. His expertise reassured me. At the time, my partner was also an engineer, and I found comfort in their logical explanations—knowledge truly is power.

In 2014, during a trip to Turkey, our group visited the Acropolis of Pergamon, which was perched atop a mountain, accessible only by hiking goat trails or taking a glass lift followed by a cable car. I chose the latter option, with my newfound manageability regarding fear.

As I entered the cable car, my nerves kicked in again, so I decided to film the ascent to distract myself. It worked; I remained calm throughout. My fellow passengers—Nicki, her dad Dave, Ashika, and her husband Vikash—were great company, keeping me engaged the entire time.

The ruins at the top were stunning, and the views were awe-inspiring. I could hear every sound from the valley below, even the bark of a dog! As I wandered to the mountain's opposite side, I stumbled upon the most panoramic views. I hope to find those photos; these are the only ones I've located.

Alone without family photographers, I learned that Pergamon was once a harbor that is now landlocked. It also boasted the second-largest library in the world after Alexandria and was where parchment was first utilized for books, while papyrus was used in Alexandria.

Once more into the cable car for the descent, this time I was accompanied by Genie, Pat, and Ron. I shared my fears, mentioning the Sentosa cable car crash in Singapore, but Genie, even more terrified than me, didn’t want to hear it. Her fear helped me overcome mine, realizing I wasn't alone in my anxiety. Ron’s engineering insights also helped bolster my confidence.

My fourth strategy involved recognizing that others had fears that were even more debilitating than mine. I can’t explain why this helped, but it certainly did.

Ultimately, I needed to remind myself that if I didn’t confront my fear of cable cars, I would miss out on breathtaking, stunning, panoramic, dramatic, and simply beautiful views (yes, I consulted a thesaurus).

The final stop on my 2014 journey was Israel, where I visited Masada. I even have photographic evidence of taking a cable car to the summit. Interestingly, a cable car ride wasn’t even noted in my journal, indicating it had become such a routine experience that I deemed it unworthy of mention.

Have you found ways to conquer your fears and fully embrace your travel experiences?

Darren Weir bravely faced his fears to explore the Blue Grotto in Capri.

title:	Capri’s most famous attraction
link:	medium.com

This was part one if you didn’t get to read it.

title:	Overcoming my greatest fear
link:	medium.com