Carlsbad Local Customs

Please be aware that in California, motorcyclists can ride between cars down the lines on the highways and freeways. You need to watch your side mirrors constantly, especially if you are going to change lanes. Lots of times you don't even hear them coming until they zing by you.
Very scary for me.

In the day of multi-plex theatres it is always a pleasure for me to come across an old neighborhood theatre still alive.

Built in 1927 at 2282 State Street, in Carlsbad Village, a block from the main intersection, this historic movie house has offered original black/white silent movies and vaudeville productions in it's early days.

Now it is a venue for cinema, live entertainment and various community live stage performances such as concerts, dances, comedy and plays as well as large screen presentations.

For a tour of this newly renovated treasure contact Tom McMahon at the phone number listed below.

Carlsbad, the site chosen for us to meet and greet Laura, "hayward68" who came to visit from Canada. Spartan, lauriejeanne, Yubert, jenn_d, Stephanie, Gerry, oldmonk 92129 and I were the old faces in the crowd. Ed_G, Evadahling, her friend Mary and of course hayward68 were new to me.

Spartan organized the VT Meeting and chose Samba's a Brazilian Steakhouse in North County Plaza Shopping Center near the Buena Vista Lagoon. This is a favorite of locals in an out of the way spot that most visitor to Carlsbad would miss.

Photo Courtesy of Stephanie

It seems that quite a lot of locals drive SUVs. Why? They don't have steep mountain roads, haevy snow fall or unpaved roads there. Why don't they buy convertibles or just midsize or large "normal" cars?
Do they ever use their SUVs as hard working cars? Or they just love them so much - like me :-)).
Any suggestions?


From my friend Dave (shdw100) from Kansas City, Missouri, USA:
People here drive SUV's for various reasons: to get away on the weekend and head to the mountains where the dirt roads are, for winter driving if you live where the snow flies, or for even being able to see over the traffic when driving and get a bird's eye view of what's ahead. There are various reasons, another one of which can also be a status symbol, meaning the bigger the SUV, the more wealth you want to portray to other people.
Thank you Dave :-).


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I was a little surprised seeing maybe not very many but quite many large or even very big pickup trucks in Carlsbad.

In Europe (even in warm/hot Mediterranean areas) and even more in Poland they are much less popular at least for the three reasons, I suppose:
- unreasonable price,
- weather (snow, rains),
- they are unpractical (easy to steal unlocked/uncovered loadings).
And they are supposed to be mainly farmers' vehicles in European warmer countries.

Why are they so popular there - in a city? What do you think?
My first idea: FOR THEIR BIG DOGS :-))). Enlarge my picture, please.

VOICE 1 (from the USA):
Americans generally like everything big because that means power and money. Its probably a cultural thing, because its not usually very practical.
Since when does someone need a 2300kg vehicle to take kids to school?? LOL
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Although the "village" dates back more than 100 years, the City was incorporated July 16, 1952. At that time, Carlsbad had a population of approximately 7,000 people and covered 7.5 square miles. Now it has over 80,000. It's estimated that the population of Carlsbad will rich 135,000 in 2010 .


WHY Carlsbad is so fast growing community?
Why people move there?
I don't know, just a few ideas:
1. location at the Ocean + great climate,
2. still not so high prices for land and houses (at least in comparison to Del Mar - a few miles south),
3. a lot of attractions around (including Legoland) which creates better possibilities for running business in Carlsbad.

Am I wrong? Any other ideas?
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Usually American cities look bigger than they really are at least compare to the European ones (and especially the Polish ones). Just my opinion. Am I wrong?
No wander almost all people live in houses (no appartment buildings; one family = one house) ----> they must cover a lot of area. And usually vinicities are never ending streets with thousands of houses one by one.


Haha, I remember that my VT friends from Canada and the USA visiting me in Tychy were surprised when I told them that my hometown population was 135,000 - hmm... they thought that maybe 50,000 or so :-).
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Except the road signs note the red curb marking:
No stopping, standing or parking. Be especially observant of the marked fire lanes.

So, never, ever stop by red curb, it may cost you much and it's unacceptable neither by law nor socially.