Cine Lido

[joizy]

Decided to try the Cine Lido again tonight even though I really didn’t have that much fun the last two times I went. I’m glad I went. Not because I had more fun. It started raining as soon as I set out to go there, so the place was dead, so I ended up not staying long. It was still drizzling when I left, and I ordered an Uber which took a very long time to arrive. While I was waiting in the lobby, I noticed a sign on the door with the hours and when I got closer to check it out, it said they open at 5 pm! No wonder it’s been so dead when I get there at 6:30.

Back in the old days when I used to go, I’d go right when they opened. There was a huge rush. Guys went in, got off, and left. I thought they opened at 6 or 6:30, and after about an hour or so, it was just a few stragglers. No more people arrived, just the ones who were not satisfied were left.

So that may explain why it’s been so dead. I am arriving an hour and a half after they open.

I will try going one of these days at 5 so that I can report back.

If you plan on going, the hours seem to be 5-10 pm. During the day, there is a shoe vendor outside (it’s actually an interesting neighborhood during the day - great place for cheap souvenirs and close to Chinatown). Entry is 200 pesos. The cashier will slip a ticket into the edge of her little window. Take the ticket, give it to the guy inside. They seem to use the same tickets over and over again. I could feel years of wear on the ticket I got tonight

It’s a huge cavernous space. Guys stand along the back wall, but the best place for action is either on the right or left side where the theater opens up. Be careful walking around the middle part because there are a lot of broken seats you can trip over.

Some guys will go all the way down to the front, but usually it means they want to be left alone.

It hasn’t been too hot at this time of year, but when I came in the summer, it was like a sauna. You can pick up a bottle of water at the little Chinese place on the corner, or go there for some fried rice and fried chicken afterwards.

Has anyone been recently? I’m wondering if my guess about going at 5 is correct. Is it better then?