I was really surprised when they started to dismantle the entire cable car in Val Senales, Italy, last summer to put up a completely new lift. I don't normally pay much attention to what they're doing down there - I prefer to fly around high above them undisturbed.

But I find it fascinating how technological progress is bringing the habitats of humans and us eagles ever closer together. Cable cars up the mountains are just one way for people to take to the skies.

In December 2023, the new cable car in Val Senales in the Alps was finally opened. It was almost a little homey when the skiers returned to the slopes, this time later than in other years. The new cable car is almost completely glazed and probably offers its guests the most beautiful views of the glacier that you can have as a creature without wings. Sometimes I made a joke of flying close to the cable car so that people would notice me and look after me enthusiastically.

But what followed was something I've never seen here before: the panoramic gondola in Val Senales became one of the first cabrio cable cars in South Tyrol! What does that mean? During the summer season, the Val Senales Glacier Cable Car now offers a few lucky people the opportunity to travel on the roof of the cabin on every ascent and descent and admire the beautiful Val Senales glacier world without the glass wall and with a fresh mountain breeze on their face.

Three experiences in particular have remained in my memory ever since:

One day, a young family with a 4- or 5-year-old boy boarded the new cabrio gondola in Val Senales. All three of them were still wearing their jackets because it was early in the morning and the air was correspondingly fresh. Nevertheless, I could see from a distance how the boy's cheeks had turned red with excitement.

He certainly hadn't imagined his hiking day would be this exciting! As the cable car started to move, the father let the boy sit on his shoulders and held him by the hands. Throughout the journey, he took in the impressions with wide eyes, laughing, cheering, and making his parents look forward to the day ahead on the glacier. On this day, I kept a safe distance from the cabin, as I was still able to see everything clearly.

On another day, I saw a couple in their 30s climbing alone into the roof cabin of the cable car in Val Senales, Italy.They carried large backpacks and were obviously hikers. Early in the morning, they had boarded at the valley station before sunrise, but towards the middle of the journey they were caught by the golden light of the sun. At that moment, the man knelt down, took a small parcel out of his pocket and opened it in front of the woman, who had turned to him in disbelief. Even from a great height, I could still see the dazzling sparkle of the small object in the rising sun. The woman seemed delighted with the gift, knelt down as well and kissed the man on the lips before they both stood up again. For the rest of the journey, the man stood behind the woman and wrapped his arms around her as they enjoyed the view in silence.

Another time, however, I saw an elderly couple boarding the Val Senales cable car in the Alps together with others. It's not often that older people treat themselves to a ticket for the panoramic gondola. These two certainly didn't seem to regret it. For the entire duration of the journey, they stood side by side behind the railing and looked in every direction, down and up, exactly as I was flying over them – and the woman saw me. Her face lit up, she nudged her companion and pointed her finger at me. He saw me too and the two of them shared a heart-warming moment of joy. The man in particular looked as if he hadn't been so carefree for a long time. His white hair was blowing in the wind, and he seemed to be enjoying the moment.

As an eagle, I naturally like to fly a little higher and a little further than the cabrio cable car in Val Senales. Nevertheless, I think that a ride on this new cabrio gondola in South Tyrol is probably the best way to see the world from my perspective. I'm already looking forward to experiencing many more moments of happiness with the passengers!