Mariquita, och andra historier från verldens utkanter

Set against the vibrant backdrop of late‑19th‑century San José, the tale follows a curious traveler who befriends the worldly don Luis, a seasoned explorer recovering from a tropical fever. Their evenings unfold on the hotel’s open doorway, where the air is filled with the sounds of marimbas and the warm chatter of locals. It is there that they first notice a striking young woman named Mariquita, whose dark hair, bright smile and restless spirit catch their attention.

Mariquita, a sixteen‑year‑old dressmaker’s apprentice, feels confined by the stifling rooms and strict expectations of her family. She darts past the travelers each night, exchanging brief but lively greetings, and gradually reveals a yearning for freedom and adventure that mirrors the narrator’s own wanderlust. As the narrator and don Luis grow closer to her, the story paints a vivid portrait of life on the edge of the Central American jungle, blending cultural observations with the simple joys of friendship and the promise of new horizons.