In 2015, I took a six-month sabbatical to travel through Europe, learn French, and study art and history. I stayed in 12 countries as far ranging as Ireland, Finland, Greece, and Spain. When in Barcelona, I took a day trip to the Montserrat Monastery, home of one of the famous "Black Madonna" statues. In order to get to the remote monastery, visitors must take a funicular suspended over the jagged hillside from the train station up to the mountain's ridge. Its cheery bright yellow exterior paint must help soothe even the most reluctant riders!