Hilda gets involved in the hype

Hilda Santiago by phone:

Meriden City Councilor Hilda Santiago enjoyed a nice lunch at a Denver Chinese food restaurant Tuesday. The event was hosted by Stamford Mayor Daniel P. Malloy and state Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford.

Santiago says she is enjoying Denver. The people are friendly and the streets are clean, she said. But adjusting to the lower oxygen level has been a challenge for Santiago, who noted that an oxygen bar has helped to clear her head.

Unlike her travel companions, state Rep. Christopher G. Donovan, D-Meriden, and Meriden Democratic Town Chairwoman Mildred Torres-Ferguson, Santiago did not make it into the Pepsi Center Monday for Democratic National Convention festivities. Being a guest, Santiago did not have first right to Connecticut credentials for the event.

Instead, she watched the first day of the convention from the Colorado Convention Center, a facility that seats about 5,000. The center featured large screens, and there were speakers at that location as well. People were clapping and cheering just as if they were at the Pepsi Center, Santiago said.

Santiago, however, will not be watching Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech tonight from the convention center. Today, she finds herself in the middle of the action and that will be where she will remain for the next few days. Some people from Connecticut did not claim their credentials, giving Santiago the opportunity of a lifetime.

"Tonight, I'm getting into the actual convention," said an excited Santiago.

- Reported by Amanda Falcone