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woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
MWZ
@woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
170 followers 190 following 730 posts
My personal Situation Room.
🇺🇸 (IA/WI) living in Bristol 🇬🇧
🧀☕🚆🚲🎼🎹🏳️‍🌈🇸🇯🇩🇰🐻
Come for the Brutalism, stay for the schlager.
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woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
1635: 10". Should have named it Winter Storm Rocco. #iowa #dubuque #snow
A yellow tape measure in a pile of white snow, with the snow reaching the 10" mark.
November 29, 2025 at 10:45 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
A week ago, I was swimming in the ocean. Now I'm girding my loins for the first of a few rounds of shovelling snow.
A tree, car, and suburban short houses covered in about 7cm of snow
November 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
My feelings upon leaving Portugal today.

Artist: Maurizio Cattelan
Seen at Serravles Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto
A taxidermied ostrich appearing to bury its head into a wooden parquet floor.
November 25, 2025 at 11:57 AM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Is there gas in the car?
Yes there's gas in the car!
I think the people down the hall know who you are.
Pope Leo singing into a microphone
November 23, 2025 at 8:32 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Piscinas naturais @ Porto Moniz today.
Ocean waves rushing over a natural pool with some black rocks sticking out A bald white man with beard and hairy chest, grinning standing outside of an ocean pool.
November 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
I mean, this was just Toto Cutugno's MO.
A graphic from a menu with the outline of Italy and, in a serif font, the words "All roads lead to Allora".
November 21, 2025 at 7:50 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Those of you who also watched the 1991 ESC, delirious in lockdown, will understand why I was drawn to this pizzeria.
A white napkin bearing a black print logo of a pizzeria named "allora".
November 21, 2025 at 7:42 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Yep.
Three men sat in chairs outside a white and yellow holiday villa.
November 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
🎶 You used to call me on your shell phone 🎶
A weathered gray granite (I think) sculpture of a woman, maybe a mermaid, holding a shell to her ear like a cell phone. Greenery abounds behind her.
November 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Incredible mineral collection at Monte Palace.

If you showed up to "chill" in Vauxhall carrying that quartz on top, I'm sure the hosts would be very excited!
A vibrant display of various minerals and geodes is set against a bright, textured royal blue wall on the left, contrasting with a dark green, mossy rock wall on the right. Multiple geodes, cut open to reveal their crystalline interiors, are arranged throughout the display. On the upper left, a long, narrow geode displays light brown crystals within its greenish-blue exterior. Above it and slightly to the right, a large, translucent white crystal, the sign said it's quartz, rests on a metal support. Below the white crystal, a flat, dark purple amethyst cluster with golden-yellow inclusions is visible. In the center, a smaller, circular geode is cut in half, revealing clear and white quartz crystals. Towards the bottom left, a large, irregularly shaped geode is cut open, showcasing rich reddish-brown crystals surrounded by layers of grey and white stone. Other smaller pieces of purple amethyst and rough, textured beige rocks are scattered among the moss and small green fern-like plants on the right side. The natural rock wall features these patches of green foliage, suggesting a cave-like or natural exhibit setting.
November 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Peacocking @ Monte Palace. #peacock #bird #birdcontent #proudasapeacock
A white and brown peacock head, with feathers on spindles looking like little brushes coming out of its head, looking left of center A shimmering blue peacock, eye straight on the camera, with blue brushes on gray spindles coming out its head.
November 20, 2025 at 12:29 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
"Welcome to Matias", indeed.
A bald man with short brown beard and generally pudgy appearance, pointing at a sign in Portuguese tile style that says "Welcome to Matias, where you can enjoy local and authentic Portuguese food".
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Calçada portuguesa (Portuguese pavement) is a style of mosaic small stone paving common in Portugal, dating to the 19th century. Common designs include geometric motifs and designs evoking the sea.

It is also slippery AF when wet.

#portugal #paving #mosaic #calcada
A design of a crab in black paving stones, surrounded by white paving stones A design of a big flat fish in black paving stones, surrounded by small white paving stones. A geometric design of small and large squares rotated 45 degrees of the main axis, with the squares in brown or black stone and the surroundings in white stone.
November 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
The cafe just started playing "The Fate of Ophelia", so it's time to start walking again.
Top half is a city of white buildings along a hill against blue sky. Bottom left is a turquoise sea washing up on a beach. Bottom right is a brown plateau with scrubby green plants.
November 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Me in public: My headphones:
Patrick Bateman listening to his Sony Walkman Jazz Loon by NorthSound Records, featuring q picture of a common loon with its beak open
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
That's a wrap on #TekknoTrain2025. Reporting from the Algarve, good night and good luck.
Sunset over rocks leading into an ocean in various shades of blue, with a yellow fading to light blue sky with a few fluffy dark gray clouds along the horizon.
November 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
...they held the connection :)

Train 21, CP Regional Linha do Algarve, Tunes-Lagos

Slow, dusty, and not using the catenary above. Also with doors miles above the platform, making the HST look like level boarding.

We made it! #TekknoTrain2025
Two CP diesel multiple units, painted light blue on the front, in platform at Lagos station.
November 16, 2025 at 7:38 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Train 20: CP Intercidades Lisboa Oriente-Tunes, on Sorefame coaches

I enjoyed this train a lot. Roomy, old, stainless steel, and not crowded by any stretch of the imagination. Coffee was from a Nespresso machine behind the counter.

We lost time, threatening my connection...

#TekknoTrain2025
A bright red and silver electric train is prominently featured, parked at a station platform. The front of the locomotive, facing the viewer, is a striking red with large windows, illuminated headlights, and the identification number '5601-8' displayed below the windshield. The side of the locomotive is silver with a red upper section, bearing a white 'CP' logo. Behind it, several passenger carriages with windows extend along the track. The station itself boasts a high, arched roof constructed of glass and intricate metal framework, giving it a grand and open appearance. On the light-colored platform to the right, a couple of people are visible, standing and looking towards the train or down the platform. Overhead electric lines are visible above the tracks, connecting to the train, under a bright sky with distant buildings. A passenger train is parked at a station platform under a striking, modern roof. The roof's structure consists of numerous white, branching, tree-like supports that hold up a glass and metal canopy, allowing views of the blue sky above. The train cars are metallic silver with a dark grey section along the windows, and one car visible on the left has green and red accents. Bright sunlight casts strong shadows across the train and the light-colored, tiled platform A wide view of a bright, modern train station. The most striking feature is the intricate, high glass and metal roof, supported by numerous white, tree-like or organic-shaped columns that branch upwards. The ceiling features a complex geometric pattern of glass panels, allowing natural light to flood the station. Below, multiple train tracks run between platforms where groups of passengers are waiting and walking. On the right, a light-colored passenger train with reddish-orange doors on its end car is parked on the tracks. Further down the tracks on the left, another train, partially visible in red and white, also waits. Tall, modern city buildings with various architectural styles are visible beyond the platforms and under the light blue, slightly overcast sky.
November 16, 2025 at 7:32 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Trains 14-19 were all Lisbon Metro vehicles. I got yelled at for taking a picture at Santa Apolonia and made to delete a snap of the trainshed, so I was a bit tentative around there.

Nice enough system. I liked the signage and line colour icons. Frequency could use a boost.

#TekknoTrain2025
A side view of a silver metro train stopped at a station platform. The train features two prominent blue doors in the center, flanked by large rectangular windows. Through the left window, several passengers are visible, including a woman with dark hair looking forward. Through the right window, a man with a mustache and a plaid shirt can be seen, along with red seats inside the carriage. A red "metro" logo with a stylized 'M' is displayed on the train's side below each window. The station platform has a yellow textured safety strip along its edge, and the dark, industrial-style ceiling of the station is visible above. A metro train is stopped at an underground station platform, seen from a slightly elevated perspective. The train has a distinctive color scheme: its front is a vibrant red-orange, while its long body is silver-grey. Along its side, multiple doors alternate between bright red and light blue. Dark windows reflect the station environment. Above the front windshield, a faint digital destination sign is visible, and two red lights are illuminated below. The concrete platform features a long, yellow, textured safety strip running alongside the tracks. Overhead, rows of fluorescent lights illuminate the grey ceiling of the station. In the background on the right, another platform and a large poster are faintly visible.
November 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Brief highlights of Lisbon:

Riding the 28 tram, tram street art, a gift from Paris, and a tram for kids with no queue.

Not shown: the wildest Scotch egg I've ever had, "Grandma's Stew", and Bar TR3S hijinks.

#TekknoTrain2025
Me on a super crowded tram in green and black flannel A mural of a tram in yellow and white careening downhill, painted along a stairway. Paris Metro style wrought iron signs for Picoas station on the Lisbon Metro at night A kiddie ride in the shape of a Lisbon tram outside a supermarket
November 16, 2025 at 7:17 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Well, Bar TR3S was fun. Lots of fun.

It also was not this abomination, which was on a street that made me feel very "Smithers with strippers.gif".
The exterior of a building at night, featuring a bar entrance adorned with numerous bras of various colors hanging from a ledge, illuminated by red string lights. Below the bras is a bright red neon sign that reads "Your BRA for free shots!". The lower facade of the building is covered in blue and white patterned tiles, with purple-lit signs for "ARROZ DOCE" marking the bar's entrances.
November 16, 2025 at 2:15 AM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
A cool dude on a wall in Lisbon. #streetart #lisboa #lisbon
A mural of a man sitting on a wall, in flat cap, green heavy coat, khaki trousers, and black shoes. The signature for Ric Tercio is next to the man.
November 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
Unlucky Train 13, my only delay of significance. CP Regional Entroncamento-Lisbon Santa Apolonia.

Turns out Storm Claudia isn't just a description of La Winkle comforting Alan Carr. Lots of disruption on the Portuguese network.

Bristol-Lisbon complete! #TekknoTrain2025
A silver and yellow kinda boxy CP EMU with fluted metal sides A very wide single leaf train door.
November 14, 2025 at 12:20 AM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
I'll come back for the castle ruins when it's not pouring rain.

Now we come to the funkiest, dinkiest, most Pacer-like train of all. Train 12, CP Badajoz-Entroncamento.

3x2 seating. Engine throbbing so hard I'm getting a massage. The saving grace is that it's nearly deserted.

#TekknoTrain2025
A lime green and white bus pretending to be a train, pulled alongside a wet station platform at night. The train interior, showing gray fabric seats with sporadic multicoloured dots, teal paint on the walls, and harsh fluorescent lighting.
November 13, 2025 at 6:29 PM
woofblitzerreports.bsky.social
That brings us to Train 11: Renfe Regional Express Merida-Badajoz. Another 599 DMU, worse for wear.

Badajoz is very wet, nice station at least. What's with Spain/ADIF and not allowing freely roaming platforms?

#TekknoTrain2025
A white and gray regional train with missing nose cone, exposing the coupler. Wet concrete on a long bridge, with a city centre in the distance. A yellow and blue decorated street sign tile that says "Plaza de los Reyes Catolicos 1474-1517".
November 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM