Crypts, pirates and other mysteries

There's nothing much mysterious about Valentine's Day. Chocolates, cheap jewelry, candles -- corporations have made very clear what our expectations should be.

So that's why today's post is about mysteries. This Valentine's in Glasgow weekend was full of mysteries for JFG and me. Perhaps you can figure out the answers.










Will the meringue epidemic ever end?

















Why would Victorians, capitalists who defined the meaning of the word for Marx, waste property with a view like this . . .















. . . by installing thousands of uber-creepy crypts?











Even in Scotland, is there such a thing as a hotel with too much plaid?














Why would JFG volunteer to take this picture?

How many fake rats do you need to make the point that 19th century merchant ships were disgusting?

What was this supposed to be?

If you needed a place to put your gigantic Bible, would you choose a statue of the Muppet eagle judge?

But most spectacularly: what did JFG and I, two people who are spiritual on good days and agnostic on bad ones, do to deserve a miracle like this in the chapel underneath a 13th century Glasgow cathedral at 9:45 am on a Saturday morning?

Whatever it is, we should do it again.