The poet in Costa Rica

On this day in 1893, José Martí visited Costa Rica for the first time.

I went down the rabbit hole a bit on this one and discovered that his visit took place in the context of a very close Costa Rica-Cuba relationship. Costa Rica was actively providing support for the revolutionary movement in Cuba at the time, and even set aside government land in Nicoya to establish a colony, led by Antonio Maceo, where Cuban revolutionaries could refuge and raise tobacco and sugar cane. It was to bring news of the revolution to Maceo that Martí first came to Costa Rica, and he later expressed deep gratitude to Costa Rica for its support.

In honor of this anniversary, here’s a phrase of Martí’s that seems particularly fitting for our own revolutionary (we hope?) times: “Mientras más honda la herida, / Es mi canto más hermoso.” (“The deeper the wound, the more beautiful my song.”)

Feliz martes-para-las-artes.

I’m a writer in San José, Costa Rica, on a year-long quest to share daily posts on inspiring people, places and ideas from my adopted home as a kind of tonic during a rough time in the world. Sign up (top right of this page) to receive a little dose of inspiration every weekday in your mailbox; tell a friend; check out past posts; and please connect with me on Instagram or Facebook! If you want to learn more about how to support Costa Rica during the crisis, visit my COVID-19 section – or for ways to enjoy Costa Rica from afar, visit Virtual Costa Rica.