Easter Vac Diaries: With Love from California

I had not been home in eight months when I boarded the gruelling eleven-and-a-half-hour flight from Heathrow to LAX. Just like how everyone who grew up in the UK isn’t nearly as excited as I am about travelling around Europe, I’m pretty apathetic towards Los Angeles and San Francisco. Been there, done that. Many, many times. But California still has its perks, including plenty of good food and drink and some nice places to sit and work without distraction.

I met up with my family and practically demanded that we visit the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences Museum, since I have not been back to LA since it opened. This establishment has several floors of exhibitions narrating cinematic history and innovation, and hosts events such as the “May the 4th” celebration with many interactive Star Wars-inspired activities. When I visited, an extensive exhibition on the making of the Godfather films was on display, as well as dozens of costumes and iconic outfits from the red carpet, including the dress Halle Berry wore to the Oscars for her landmark Best Actress win in 2002, David Bowie’s Goblin King costume from The Labyrinth, and Okoye’s armour from Black Panther.