Joe Diaz, a Gainesville attorney who is a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, said the first official day of the convention was busy, even before the gavel fell to open the session.

Diaz spoke to The Times while traveling in a taxi to the Pepsi Center.

"It’s a bustling place," said Diaz, whose day began with a 7:45 a.m. meeting of the Georgia delegation at the Doubletree Hotel. "They hand out credentials for each day at the beginning of the day. The delegate credential, which I have, seems to be the gold standard. Getting into official venues requires passing through multiple checkpoints. You go through one checkpoint and are searched, and move ahead to another checkpoint where you are screened again."

The first session began at 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday.

Among the notables he already has seen include U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Atlanta. The Georgia delegation is scheduled to hear today from former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, and will hear from former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday. Carter addressed the convention Monday.

Diaz was elected as a delegate pledged to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.