With a bicycle as his faithful companion, a notebook as his compass, and a heart full of stories, Jaime Roldán, a Colombian traveler passionate about literature and pedagogy, has already pedaled 4,500 kilometers, crossed nine countries, and shared his love of reading with thousands of people along the way. His final destination: is Alaska, and the time it takes to get there is not a concern. What matters is the route, the encounter, and the power of words.
Roldán’s adventure began in 2008, when he embarked on his first major trip through South America by bicycle, traveling 24,000 kilometers across ten countries. From that journey emerged his thesis in Philosophy and Literature, entitled “Suramérica Rodada,” a collection of chronicles that reflect an intimate dialogue with the continent. But it wasn’t just the bicycle that marked his path: reading promotion and creative writing workshops also did, professions he embraced with vocation, working with institutions such as the University of Antioquia, Fundalectura, Comfenalco, and the Terpel Foundation.
Now, in his latest adventure, called “Rueda Libre,” Jaime Roldán seeks to unite the entire American continent from Medellín to Alaska. He is currently in Mérida, Yucatán, from where he continues his journey, with Chiapas as his next destination, sowing letters and harvesting memories with every pedal stroke.
The traveler and staunch promoter of creative reading and writing said that Rueda Libre is not just a physical journey, but a proposal for cultural transformation: a mobile, self-managed space that transforms plazas, schools, and communities into creative meeting points.
He shared that one of the main benefits was demystifying what is happening in Central America regarding security and its forms of violence. He noted that, on his journey, with his bicycle being not only his faithful companion but also his best letter of introduction, he had no unpleasant incidents; quite the opposite, he experienced unity as a brotherly people.
Through educational exercises, literary prompts, and the simple act of conversation, Jaime Roldán invited everyone to overcome their fear of the blank page and discover that, as he says, “we are made of words, of stories.”
With Alaska on his horizon, Roldán is in no hurry. His path is guided by letters and by that irresistible impulse to share what he loves: reading, writing, and teaching.
Jaime Roldán will remain in the state capital for a few more days. He expects to set out again toward the middle of next month, heading north, where the stories and the conviviality of the Mexican people will surely stay with him for the next ride, which will surely remain in his Colombian heart.
TYT Newsroom
The post Reader Traveling the World by Bicycle Arrives in Mérida first appeared on The Yucatan Times.