Over Labor Day, we (and by we, I mean he but I was with him throughout the journey for moral support) drove to Oxnard for a day of exploration. My siblings have visited Oxnard once before and they regaled me with stories of its beauty so I had to experience it for myself.

We got dinner at Money Pancho, a Mexican restaurant with marvelous reviews on yelp. We were greeted with a smile and were immediately shown our table. Only one other couple was there but it definitely got busier as the night went on. We ordered the Camaron Bilbaina (Black Tiger shrimp, delicately sauteed with dry red chilies, garlic, butter, and mushroom sauce and then flambe in white wine before serving) and the Filet of Sole Veracruzana (filet of Sole cooked in Salsa Veracruz made with garlic, peppers, onions, olives, tomato Ranchera sauce & white wine). We both thought they were delicious though I preferred the Camaron better than the Sole. By the end of the meal, we had debated on getting desserts because we were both full but decided to get the flan. It was delicious, and I'm really happy we got it. We walked back to our hotel with happy stomachs and happier hearts.

Come the morning, we grabbed breakfast from Hollywood Beach Cafe. Boyfriend ordered their Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict with spinach & hash browns while I got Avocado & Toast with two eggs, griddled tomatoes and fresh fruit. My boyfriend's choice tasted better but we enjoyed the fresh fruits a lot. They had the best strawberries & raspberries I've had in a very long time. No photograph of the food because, you guessed it, I got too distracted by the adorable dog.

The restaurant was close to the beach and we had initially planned on taking a walk there after eating but we forgot to bring towels, and didn't want to risk getting sand all over our shoes and my boyfriend's car. We decided to skip the beach and headed to the Channel Island Harbor Marina instead - it's where the Oxnard Farmers' Market is held every first Sunday of the month.

It was a such a good day to be in such a beautiful and calming place, and we had a lot of fun exploring the different pop up shops in the Farmers' Market. It was surprisingly bigger than I expected it to be - even bigger than Echo Park & Silver Lake Farmers' Market. We ended up buying a Chocolate Chocolate Thunder cupcake from a local baker and a small container of raspberries, which were definitely not as good as the ones we've had at Hollywood Beach Cafe but they were fresh and delicious nonetheless.

The epitome of political paradoxes

Before heading home, we swung by the Carnegie Art Museum, which is one of the reasons why I wanted to go to Oxnard in the first place. However, it was closed because they were preparing for an exhibition for late September. I was disappointed but I'm glad to be able to see its notable facade anyway. Afterwards, we headed back to LA with big smiles and lots of singing to The Smiths. I always feel closer to boyfriend after traveling somewhere new together, and I can't help but feel so grateful to have him, his company and all the conversations we have in my life. It was a wonderful three-day weekend indeed.

On account of my saying that beaches are swarming with Pokemons (and yes, I do play Pokemon GO), my boyfriend took me to the beach so I could catch new ones to add onto my Pokedex. He knows I haven't been to Venice beach before, which is why he took it upon himself to drive for more than hour to take me there. That's also yet one of the reasons why I adore the guy.

We went on a day wherein the Santa Clarita fire was at its ravaging worst so the skies were dark and tinted with yellow. My boyfriend woke up to finding a thin veil of ashes on his car's windshield. 

We made our way to the Venice Canals first, and I was a bit disappointed. It wasn't quite what I expected. The canals were lovely but they were a bit ho-hum and reminded me of canals in the Philippines. From the photos, I kind of thought they'd be a more picturesque sight. 

Afterwards, we walked the entire length of the Venice Boardwalk, which, to someone with social anxiety, was kind of a herculean task. It was packed and I hated every minute of being there. But if there's one thing I learned, it was that growth rarely ever goes hand in hand with comfort. 

We frolicked by the beach for a while, which made me really happy. I like the smell of the sea. I like the sight of the ocean. Just those things are more than enough to remind me that I'm glad to be alive.

In all my excitement and anxiety, I completely forgot to catch pokemons, which is why we went there in the first place. I was too busy running around and getting wet. Afterwards, we got dinner from The Terrace wherein I ordered seafood pasta and my boyfriend got the grilled atlantic salmon. My pasta was good while his dish came with delicious rice and a flavorful, albeit a bit dry, salmon.

I had an amazing time, but I don't think I'll be back. I'd rather go to a less touristy beach than traverse through the intricate crowds of Venice Beach again.