The coincidences of life made us contact one day, a long time ago, with a peculiar type. Nomad, clown, writer and, above all, inspiring. Álvaro Neal, also known as Biciclown, left everything he had in that well-off life as a notary, took his bicycle and returned home 13 years later. With more than 100 countries covered in more than 200,000 kilometers pedaled, several books in his backpack written by his own hand in the most remote places on the planet and a load of dreams come true, anecdotes and much, much learning. Learning about life, the world and oneself. The one that lets you know who you are, where you are and where you would like to go. The one that drives you to get on your bike and chase your dreams. But do not rush, because it is not a good travel companion. But the one that allows you to stop to observe the landscape. He decided to live "at the speed of butterflies."

When we learned that Biciclown was coming to our hotels, we threw the doors wide for him. We wanted to give you the best of us. Do the best we can. When he left, his room was empty, but our hearts were filled with the desire to live and discover. We have learned so many things from your visit that we want to share it with you. Because life is a continuous journey, a bike ride, a dream come true. Living is traveling, pedaling and dreaming.

We understand that you are Asturian, you studied in Pamplona and you worked in Madrid. Were you already a bit nomadic since you were young?

Yes, I think it grew over the years although the word nomad did not even know what it meant ... Rather it was restless.

Having lived in Pamplona, will you know Navarra? What do you like the most about our land?

People. I really put Navarrese people as an example of good people. If you have a friend, I say that he is from Navarre. He says it out there a jot, but I really mean it. It has always amazed me when you are going to have a pot out there and the Navarrese are stuck for paying ... There is never a problem if I ate more than you or less than you. Navarre people seem to me to be the best there is.

How many years has it been since you returned to Pamplona?

Since I studied the career basically. In fact, I found myself with friends from the career that I had not seen for dozens of years.

After 13 years of traveling, has the same person who left come back?

No. A human being left and an alien returned because now I don't identify with the other people I see, how they live or what they do. I have seen another world and I have known other things about myself that I don't have much to do with here on this earth now. I have lived intensely for many years and here I see many people whose life is glued to a telephone and that scares me.

Do you remember the day you started the journey? How did you feel?

Yes, luckily I organized it to be surrounded by friends and so if I got lazy I couldn't back down. And on the return I did the same. I surrounded myself with friends and made a party to say “well, if I regret it, I have to go because they are waiting for me”. I felt very excited and wanted to eat the world and that's what I did.

And when you came back they welcomed you in Oviedo to the rhythm of “Asturias dear homeland”. It must have been exciting ...

It was and I still think about it and I get excited. It was also a coincidence. Some friends, who came from Barcelona for the arrival, found a person playing the trumpet in the street and they said to him “do you know how to play” Asturias, dear Patrica? Yes. Well, come with us. " The people who were there did know that I was coming, but he did not. And then talking to him we learned that in the past he had been a professional musician in the Symphony Orchestra of the Principality of Asturias. In other words, we know "Asturias, dear homeland", the Ninth Symphony and whatever it takes, but it was so nice to hear that trumpet in that beautiful square with the blue sky of that clean winter day.

Why did you choose the bicycle as your means of transport? Has the road been easy?

There is no other smarter means of transport. The only thing that I am intelligent about is having chosen the bicycle because it is the most humane means of transport that exists, you can carry many things, it keeps you in shape and it is a passport. It has opened many doors for me. The fact of coming by bicycle has helped me and in front of people it has given me a lot of value. In addition, the bicycle is inexpensive. I keep myself in a very simple economic life and the bicycle is simplicity. It's maximum performance at minimum effort.

Is life a bike ride?

No. Life for me is more like a paradise. If there are days when things are not going well for us, it is because of us, not because the external elements are not good. We are the ones who make life hell. I usually say that if there is another paradise, perfect. We already have two, but let's not miss the opportunity to experience this amazing landscape thinking of the other. As for whatever there is no other, we have lost both.

What is the most important thing in life for you?

Possibly life. Living each day. The bike has given me the ability to hit the pause button many times a day. To say “stop. Look around you and live in the present ”. Not going to life with my plans, but asking him what he has for me. I ask life every day what it has for me. If you go with your plans, life tells you many times that you will not be able to achieve them and there comes stress and disappointments. For me the key is to continually correct the course. That ability to observe myself has been given to me by the trip. Am I where I want to be? No; I correct. Yes; I follow. That is stopping life. But not for most people not for life and that, many times, makes you stand on the edge of the precipice. We have come to this world to be happy. Life is enjoying every day.

In life, do you move because of the trip or because of your dreams?

For my dreams. Travel is the means of moving. I don't consider myself a nomad; someone who is passing through, not someone who is taking photos. I'm not so interested in monuments as in people.

Now you leave the bicycle and start a new road in a motorhome. And then?

I don't make too many plans. It will come. Just having that four-wheeled house, that if it rains I don't get wet, I already consider myself a privileged person. We'll see ... maybe I'll go for another ride on my bike or they solve gravity on the moon and I can go pedaling there.