Gabriel García Márquez · 1985 · river

Gabriel García Márquez's 1985 novel. In a Caribbean port city in Colombia, Florentino Ariza loves Fermina Daza for over fifty years, waiting through her marriage to a doctor. When at last they are both old and free, they board a riverboat up the Magdalena and back, flying the yellow flag of cholera so that no passengers may join them - and float on the river forever.

1. 1
   Cartagena

   The Caribbean port city where Florentino Ariza first sees Fermina Daza and begins a love that will wait more than half a century for her to be free.

2. 2
   The Magdalena River

   The great river up which, decades later, the aged lovers finally travel together by steamboat - past the deforested banks and the wreck of the country - flying the cholera flag to keep the world away.

3. 3
   La Dorada

   The upriver town at journey's turn, where the boat reaches the head of navigation before the captain, at the lovers' wish, orders it to turn back and sail on forever.