Don & Kully's World Cruise on Viking Neptune

This is the beautiful scene that we woke up to this morning as the Viking Neptune anchored offshore from Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara sets between the Pacific Ocean and the steep Santa Ynez Mountains. Some call Santa Barbara the “American Riviera” and we certainly understand why. The city dates back to the founding of the Old Mission Santa Barbara in 1786 by Franciscan Friers.

Today we decided to rent a car to explore on our own. We headed north on California Highway 101 along the Pacific coast enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding mountains. We drove to Simi Valley and visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum where we learned there are 13 Presidential Libraries that are part of the National Archives and Records Administration. The first Presidential Library was constructed by President Franklin Roosevelt through private funds. He later donated the library to the US government for operation through the National Archives. In 1955, the process of establishing Presidential libraries became law when congress passed the Presidential Library Act.

Whenever Kully and I travel near a Presidential Library, we try to spend at least a day visiting the library and museum regardless of how we feel about the particular president’s political view or accomplishments. We’ve found that the libraries are a “time capsule” that takes us back to the time of each president and gives a glimpse of the world and how they governed from their point of view giving us, in most cases, a new perspective about that president. Also, the museums are a treasure trove of mementos, gifts received from other heads of states, personal affects, videos and photos during their time in office.

Within the Reagan Museum there are galleries that cover his early political career, time as Governor of California, presidential campaigns, a full-size replica of the Oval Office, and several galleries that focus on the cold war and the summits with the Soviet Union. 

There are also displays about life in the White House, Camp David and his beloved California Ranch. 

The most popular display is Air Force One Pavilion where the Boeing 707 that served as Air Force one during Reagans Presidency is on display. Visitors are able to walk through the aircraft and see how the president and is staff traveled across the globe. There is also a Marine One Presidential Helicopter on display in the pavilion.

Our new friends, David and Annette, from Great Britian, honored us by accompanying us on our trip. They had a very keen interest in President Reagan because of the relationship that he and Prime Minister Margarette Hatcher had during Reagan’s time in office.

We will be spending the next five days at sea. We have a new group of enrichment speakers who will begin covering a wide range of topics relative to Hawaii, French Polynesia and New Zealand. Our next port of call is Honolulu, Hawaii where will spend two days, January 16 and 17.