Situated along the Pacific Coast in the Mexican state of Nayarit, the city of San Francisco—commonly known as San Pancho—is a pueblo bustling with artisans and expats. It’s a hip, little town with an infectious devotion to the ocean, crisp Mexican Lagers, Mezcal, and dogs.
Similar to other small, Central American towns I’ve visited, stray dogs roam the cobblestone streets, though it feels different in San Pancho. Most of these “street dogs” don’t have homes of their own, but wander from place to place—in San Pancho they are regarded as protectors rather than pets. Locals adorn them with bandanas or collars to protect them from dog-nappers, and lovingly provide them with food and shelter during inclement weather.
The level of admiration for San Pancho’s four-legged friends is so prevalent, you would be hard-pressed to find a bar or restaurant without at least one dog napping on the cool concrete floors or politely waiting for a scrap of food.
At a local pulqueria—a Mexican tavern specializing in Pulque, an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of agave—my fiancé and I recently met a furry friend enjoying a siesta. Even after we parted ways to take a nap of our own, we knew he was soon to find new companions. Once the sun set and the air turned cool, this sleepy pulqueria was animated with music and filled with joyous revelry, as friends sang and danced late into the night. Rest assured, there was soon to be no shortage of affection for our tail-wagging companion.
Words + Photo by Christine Schnier