How Carlsbad Got Its Name
Everyone told John Frazier he was crazy to try and dig a well between the railroad tracks and the ocean. Well, probably everyone except Sylvester Marron or Robert Kelly, who in the 1880s were already tapped into the area's many artesian springs. Many closer to the coast had tried and failed to dig wells. But when Frazier hit water, land prices rose dramatically. The mineral water he found matched that of Karlsbad, Bohemia—now Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic—which already had a 500-year reputation as the biggest spa town in Europe. Thus the Carlsbad Land and Water Company was born and with it a town. The current statue of Frazier at the well at Alt Karlsbad was done by artist and former mayor of Karlovy Vary, Vaclav Lokvenc.

Sister Cities
In 1988, the city of Carlsbad established its Sister City Program. The City Cultural Arts Office has written that the mission of the program is to "create active and meaningful connections between Carlsbad and its citizens and comparable yet internationally dispersed communities in an effort to promote peace, cultural awareness and economic opportunities through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation."

Futtsu, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, was Carlsbad's first sister city, approved in 1988. It is similar in size, location and agricultural roots. Following the collapse of the Soviet empire and the Velvet Revolution, Karlovy Vary asked Carlsbad to renew our historic connection. Karlovy Vary became our second sister city in 1991.

Because of budgetary restraints, the Carlsbad-sponsored Sister City Committee is dissolving, but a nonprofit organization, Carlsbad Sister City Ambassadors, is forming to continue this relationship with citizens and businesses. In December, a delegation from Karlovy Vary visited Carlsbad. Our guests included Lord Mayor Werner Hauptmann; his wife and a Hotel Thermal representative, Iva Hauptmannova; Deputy Mayor of Tourism Dagmar Laubova; Director of the Music School of Antonin Dvorak, Vaclav Richter; and Municipal Parliament Member Marketa Wernerova.

Reasons and Seasons to Visit Karlovy Vary
It's the water. Or at least it starts there. Lord Mayor Hauptmann said with a wink and a smile, "The spa season begins the first of May. But it is best to stay two or three weeks. Twice a year." He said Czech doctors suggest that as the ultimate time to drink the waters, soak in the baths and relax your way to optimum health. But once the waters get you there they have a world-renowned international film festival on par with Cannes. Also, as the Czech Republic is home to composer Antonin Dvorak, Hauptmann said, "We have a symphonic festival. But we also have a jazz festival and opera competition." There is a Carlsbad to Karlovy Vary Opera Competition program and Carlsbad winners Priti Gandhi and Suzanne Kurner traveled there to boost their international reputations. •

Karlovy Vary (formerly Karlsbad)	Carlsbad
• Population approximately 55,000	• Population approximately 100,000
• Established in 1370	• Incorporated in 1952
• Tourism swells the summer population	• Tourism swells the summer population
• Best view of the city: Hike to the Diana outlook tower	• Best view of the city: Hike to the top of Mt. Calavera
• A spa destination	• A spa destination
• Hills sprinkled with artesian springs	• Hills sprinkled with artesian springs
• Most substantial spring: Thermal Spring	• Most substantial spring: Frazier’s Well
• A golf city	• A golf city
• Great mountain biking	• Great mountain biking
• Hiking/walking (esplanades and promenades)	• Hiking/walking (trails and seawall)
• Ludvik Grigoras grew up surrounded by these mineral springs.	• Ludvik Grigoras now lives here (and owns The Carlsbad Mineral Water Spa).
• Located at the confluence of two rivers (the Ohre and the Tepla) in the Czech Republic	• Located at the convergence of land and sea in the People’s Republic of California
• A good Czech meal: roast duck, dumplings with sauce, sauerkraut, chased down by a good pilsner	• A good SoCal meal: carne asada, rice and beans, chased down by a good microbrew
• Most accomplished sports team: Energy Hockey, national champs of 2009	• Most accomplished sports team: ‘08-’09 La Costa Canyon girls volleyball team
• Major producer of glassware (Moser)	•Major producer of golf clubs (Callaway, TaylorMade, Titleist)