In nineteenth century Venezuela, their love affair was strictly forbidden. She was the beautiful, raven-haired daughter of a wealthy, Spanish plantation owner. Carlos, of mixed ancestry, was cautioned to keep his place.
One day, in the soft morning light, Sofia climbed into her family's boat and set sail down the Caroni River. Carlos shoved off in his canoe from the banks of the Orinoco River. They guided their crafts over waves, around rocks and whirlpools and past villages perched on stilts. Determined to reach their meeting place, they pushed on.
Where the two rivers met, Carlos crossed from the brownish, opaque waters of the Orinoco into the transparent waters of the Caroni. Carlos saw Sofia waiting for him on the banks of the river.
From there, they set out together, sailing on the warm ocean currents.