By Thomas Kaplan

DENVER, 10:45 p.m. — Little did I know how excruciatingly boring a political convention is during the many hours not shown during primetime. So this afternoon I had some time to explore the Pepsi Center, the arena where the Democratic National Convention is being held this week.

viewfromtop.jpg

View of the floor from the nosebleed seats.

More photos after the jump.

cnn.jpg

CNN seems to have the most impressive set-up of the television networks.

lobby.jpg

The lobby of the Pepsi Center, ground zero for the much-loved man (or delegate) on the street interview.

filingcenter.jpg

The press filing center on what I believe is the practice court for the Denver Nuggets basketball team.  Not-so-fun fact: There is no wireless Internet in the filing center.

filing2.jpg

Also, I’m pretty sure the television in my suite’s common room is larger than each of those. Weird — Obama’s primary-night filing center in New Hampshire, as one example, was much better equipped than this.

lost.jpg

So much for security. I got off on the wrong floor and asked for directions; the volunteer promptly directed me straight into the heart of the Pepsi Center’s operations offices. I just wandered in. That’s probably not good?

caro.jpg

Caroline Kennedy speaks to the convention.

ted.jpg

Senator Ted Kennedy was greeted by a sea of “Kennedy” signs and a nearly two-minute ovation.