Issue #20: My Spring Break Trip to Mexico
A recap of my March cruise to Mexico, Hacienda style homes for sale in the Bay Area, and Dead & Company live at the Sphere.
The Silvert Lining is a place where I talk about real estate, cool homes for sale, things I’m looking forward to, and how I’ve been spending my time. In addition to this newsletter, I also post regularly on Instagram. You can follow me at Dan Silvert Homes. If you would like to meet with me to discuss your home search, you can schedule time here.
I realize a 45-year-old unmarried childless man calling a trip that took place in the spring a “spring break” may seem like a stretch. But I’m nothing if not a contrarian.
This is the third year I have taken a spring break cruise with my girlfriend. During each spring break vacation, I have put a client into contract. On this trip, a wonderful couple I’ve been working with had an offer accepted on an exceptional property in Oakland’s Upper Rockridge neighborhood. My takeaway from this trend: I need to take more vacations as it’s good luck for my clients!
In 2023 my girlfriend and I took a seven-day cruise on Holland America to the Eastern Caribbean. On the red-eye flight to Florida I came down with hand-foot-and-mouth disease. I had planned to have a few days before the cruise to explore South Florida and see a Marlins game; instead, I was holed up at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables recuperating. By the time the cruise started, I had a recovered from a viral infection that is usually only found in toddlers.



In 2024, we took a five-day Carnival cruise around the Yucatan Peninsula that left from New Orleans. The highlight of that trip was visiting the Mayan ruins at Uxmal and Tulum and spending a few days in New Orleans after the cruise.



This year we decided to take a seven-day Holland America cruise from San Diego to the Mexican Riviera. Mexico’s current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is Jewish, so I need to visit Mexico more during her tenure.
The morning the cruise left we took an early flight from SFO, had breakfast at Coco Maya in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood, and then boarded the ship in the early afternoon. The first two days of the trip were sea days (i.e., you do not leave the ship as you’re sailing to your next destination). Before I had taken a cruise, I assumed that sea days were very boring. Now that I have taken a few cruises, I look forward to sea days as I can do some serious relaxing while enjoying the ship’s amenities. I filled the sea days with sleeping, reading, swimming, movies, and wine tastings.
This cruise had three ports (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas), and we planned different activities with different vibes for each day. On our first port day in Puerto Vallarta, we took a taxi to the beachfront Westin Resort as we had purchased day passes from Resort Pass. The weather was perfect for swimming, reading poolside, and al fresco dining. I finished last week’s newsletter while drinking a margarita and looking at the ocean.



Our next port was Mazatlán, and we booked a bird watching excursion organized by Holland America. We spent the day in a small boat motoring around Mazatlán’s estuary surrounded by seagulls and pelicans. We spotted a number of ospreys and herons before taking a break for lunch on the beach. At one point in the day my girlfriend asked me if I wanted to take up birding as a hobby. My answer was “no,” even though our excursion was very cool.
Our final port was Cabo San Lucas. As it was a rather short day off the ship, we spent a couple hours exploring on foot before drinks and lunch at the Office and a water taxi ride back to the Marina to tender to the ship. While we were in the water taxi, we saw a sea lion hitch a ride and grab a snack from a fishing boat ahead of us.



Now that I’m back in the Bay, I’m looking to relive my vacation with Hacienda style homes. I love red clay tile roofs, stucco walls, and charming historical details.



Let me know if you are looking for a new home and I can create a customized search based on your wants and needs that will email you homes that meet your search criteria. You can schedule time with me to discuss your search for a new home or selling your current home by emailing me at DanSilvertHomes@gmail.com. DRE #01963734



After the cruise ended, I headed to the airport for a short flight to Las Vegas. The impetus for my 24-hour trip was to see Dead and Company as part of their Dead Forever run at the Sphere with my friend Peter Ferioli of Pantheon Media. The band combines original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir (on rhythm guitar and some vocal) and Mickey Hart (on drums) with John Mayer and a group of veteran musicians who are all monster players. While I could write a novel about that band and its history, I'll just say that it was a show I am grateful (pun intended) to have experienced.
In celebrity real estate news, Dolly Parton’s former 1,800-square-foot Idyllwild cabin is for sale for $768,000. The 1966 home includes furnishings and decor Dolly herself selected after purchasing the property in 2000. I love the guitar-shaped toilet seat cover!
I love reading these and so happy you two are enjoying what's out there!