Spanish dictionaries define the word sabor as flavor or taste. In figurative terms it refers to the ambience or feeling that pervades something. If you choose to live or retire in Costa Rica you will most certainly be influenced by the sabor or flavor of the country’s culture. What I am really referring to is the country’s delicious lifestyle. It think that is what makes Costa Rica such a great place to live. Once you get the country into your system, you just can’t get rid of it.

Sometimes I walk by Central Park in Heredia or Avenida Central in San José and you can just feel the special energy in the air. No, I am not on drugs! You’d have to experience this to see what I mean. It is almost magical and uplifting.

When I hear lively Salsa or Merengue music on the street or on the radio I also experience a rush of energy and happiness. It is so uplifting! Just go to “you tube” and type in salsa music, watch a video of people dancing and you will see what I mean. Salsa music has sabor! Everything seems sabor here including the country’s beautiful array of woman as they stroll down the street. They seem to exude sabor with every step they take.

Absolutely everything is sabroso which means tasty and full of Latin sabor (flavor).

Sabor will even improve your health. By studying Latin dances like Meregue, Salsa, Cumbia and Boldero, to name a few, you can get an excellent aerobic workout at one of the country’s many dancehalls any night of the week.

On my monthly relocation and retirement tours I always take my guests to a restaurant which features Latin-style music. On the last tour several people got up and danced. Everyone had a great time experiencing a dose of local culture and sabor.