William Walker

When one mentions Nashville, Tennessee, country music stars might first come to mind as I am sure one’s first thought isn’t of a U.S....

As the country celebrates Juan Santamaría Day, columnist Mitzi Stark takes a look at the Costa Rica of 1856.

Rock lovers will agree that The National Auditorium was the right place to be yesterday night, where was performed the opening night of the first original rock opera ever made in Costa Rica, “Heroes 1856”. Which tells the story of the National Campaign on 1856 where Costa Ricans fought against the filibusters who tried to take Central America.

“To us it is so important to tell, especially to the young people, the story of Costa Rica in a different way and with fresher language, using a music genre they can understand,” Mario Campos, producer and co-creator of the opera with Jorge Urbina, told The Tico Times. "We have heroes who have stood out throughout history."

The Costa Rican Foreign Ministry said it deplored Bolivian President Evo Morales' comments on Feb. 7 claiming Costa Rica was a former colony of the United States and that the U.S. had disbanded the country's army, according to a statement released Monday.