I woke up early this morning to head to the Secretary of State building in downtown L.A. to complete a Declaration of Value document as part of my process for obtaining an Apostille. Despite setting my alarm for 7am, I woke up to the sound of heavy rain outside my window and knew that traffic would be bad.

Traffic in L.A. is notoriously bad, with long commute times and heavy congestion on the freeways. The city is known for its sprawling layout, which can make it difficult to navigate and can lead to delays. Additionally, the high volume of tourists and visitors to the city can exacerbate traffic problems. During rush hour, it is not uncommon for freeways to be completely gridlocked, with cars barely moving at all. The rain can also be a factor and can make traffic even worse. Many people who live and work in L.A. have grown accustomed to the traffic and often plan their commutes accordingly, leaving extra time to reach their destination.

After sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, I finally arrived at the building and searched for the cheapest parking rate. Walking to the building, I encountered friendly parking attendants who were helpful and cheerful, which was a nice surprise as I had heard that L.A. was known for being unfriendly. Upon entering the building, I went through security and was directed to the correct floor. The building was surprisingly clean and quiet, and I was impressed by the size of it. When I entered the room where I was to complete my paperwork, I was surprised to find that there was no line and plenty of seats available. Despite the early morning and the rain, I was able to complete my paperwork and leave feeling accomplished.