A Day at Notre Dame with the Golden Time Club
Early on Sunday, June 21, 56 people – members and friends of Golden Time Club„, including children – set off by bus from the „Bugarika“ center towards Notre Dame and South Bend. Just a few hours' drive, but with the feeling of a real journey.
Amidst the silence of Notre Dame
The first stop was the heart of University of Notre Dame. The group explored the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the famous Grotto, and the Golden Dome, each at their own pace along the flat campus paths. For many, the quiet moments in front of the Grotto, where anyone could light a candle, remained among the warmest memories of the day.
The University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin and the Holy Cross brothers and is today among the most renowned Catholic universities in the USA, also famous for its „Fighting Irish“ American football team. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart was built from 1871 and completed in 1888, and its frescoes and stained-glass windows rank it among the most beautiful churches in the country. The „Golden Dome“ above the main building – nearly 57 meters high and topped with a statue of the Virgin Mary – was erected in 1879 after a devastating fire and has since been a symbol of the university. The Grotto, on the other hand, is a scaled-down memorial replica of the famous cave in Lourdes, France.
Campus Art
Very close to the basilica, still on the campus itself, was the next stop – Raclin Murphy Art MuseumVery close to the basilica, still on the campus itself, was the next stop – the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. A bright gallery with free admission, pleasant for a quiet indoor stroll. The Raclin Murphy Museum opened its doors very recently – on December 1, 2023, in a new building of nearly 6500 sq. m, the work of Robert A. M. Stern's architectural studio. It is named after the donors Ernestine Raclin and Carmen and Chris Murphy. Its collection boasts over 30,000 works from various eras and cultures, and admission is free – making it a wonderful place for a peaceful break surrounded by art. Here, the group also took its lunch break – outdoors, in the park in front of the museum, where most had brought homemade food, and the meal turned into a pleasant moment of sharing, as always happens in good company. For coffee and a light snack, we stopped by Ivan's Café and Bookshop – a cozy cafe next to the central atrium, on the first floor of the museum. It is named after the Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović, who was a resident sculptor at Notre Dame in the 1950s; his works adorn the campus and stand right next to the cafe, including „The Head of Moses.“ Even the menu is conceived as a tribute to him – European classics inspired by Meštrović's travels across Europe, plus pastries and local dishes.
Classic cars
Then it was the turn of Studebaker Museum with its collection of classic cars and carriages. The Studebaker Museum in South Bend tells the story of the company of the same name, which produced carriages and then automobiles here for over a century. Among the more than 70 vehicles in the collection is the carriage in which traveled President Abraham Lincoln, pioneer wagons, early electric cars, and military vehicles. It is housed in a 2005 building that resembles the old Studebaker factories. Some of the cars hold entire stories. Here is the carriage that President Abraham Lincoln traveled in to Ford's Theatre on the fateful night of April 14, 1865, when he was shot. Nearby is a black Packard that belonged to Louise Arner Boyd – a wealthy Californian who became an explorer of the Arctic and Greenland, and in 1955, the first woman to fly over the North Pole. And among the most entertaining exhibits is a Studebaker Champion that appeared in „The Muppet Movie“ from 1979 – it was precisely in this car that Kermit and Fozzie traveled across America in the film.
The weather had other plans
The program also included a brief stop at Indiana Dunes on the return trip. But the weather had other plans – by the time the group was at the Studebaker Museum, it started raining, and the stop by the dunes was canceled. Otherwise, the day went almost entirely according to plan.
Together - that's the most important thing
The bus returned to the Center around 6:30 PM – with tired but very happy passengers. Golden Time Club„ once again showed that age is just a number when there's a desire for new experiences and good company. Until the next adventure!
