Adios “Pancho el Sol” [] You are remembered

Published July 1, 2022

In the historic center of San Miguel de Allende everyone knows Francisco González Sánchez, affectionately nicknamed “Pancho el Sol” (Pancho the Sun). Since he was a child he used to sit with his stool and shine the shoes of passersby. Today that place is empty at 67 years of age.

Respect, affection and dedication are some of the words that describe his greatest virtues that he shared with the people of San Miguel who knew him since he was a 12 year old boy.

Everyone knows who “Pancho el Sol” was. Before being a boleador he was a hard working boy who dedicated himself to various trades, from hairdresser to newspaper salesman, he was the little boy who sold the editions of El Sol, hence his nickname.

One day he left his various professions to try a new one: to be a boleador. He got a little bench, set it up in the Main Garden and never moved from there… never until he died. Although death took him away from there, life turned him into an icon that will be remembered in the collective memory.

Although celebrities, politicians, people of high social class, humble people, professionals or employees would come to dance with him, the real star was always “Pancho el Sol”.