Above the Basilica

I don't think I need to write much about this (Above... ) just look at the pictures and you will get an impression. In Nature, of course, it was even more impressive, logically! Especially the weather: down below, when paying the entrance fee (locals $1, foreigners $2) it was pouring, up there the rain clouds were still there, but the air was clear and the atmosphere with the sun somewhere behind the clouds was fantastic. So, that's all about that, because I couldn't capture it properly with the camera on my phone.

Two other things, one of which is only loosely related to my stay here: Congratulations to Aline on her, let me think for a moment, 23rd birthday! I was told via WhatsApp that you celebrated on Klosterstrasse. Now I realize what a great thing Aline accomplished two years ago in Chile. To endure in a foreign country without knowing the language. I also think of Fabienne, back then in Pantelleria. Great achievement! I have it easier, much easier, but still I have already wished ... Now I am sure that it will turn out well, even if there may still be mood swings coming in waves.

The second thing is the matter mentioned in yesterday's blog post about the boiling volcano, politically speaking.

About three weeks ago, the Swiss news reported that the Ecuadorians had elected socialist Moreno Lenin as president, just ahead of conservative Guillermo Lasso. For Europe, the only important thing was that Julian Assange is now safe in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. That's it!
But here, something more substantial has happened. Surveys by an independent public opinion research institute showed that Lasso was winning the election. Less independent institutions, of course, said otherwise. But the absolutely strange thing was that during the vote count, the digital evaluation system had a breakdown. Before the breakdown, Lasso was leading with a good 60%, after the 20-minute breakdown... Lenin was in the lead! Simple as that. Of course, the election procedure was controlled by the party of the socialist current president Correa. I got this information from my host mother.
I spoke about it with someone who must know (in Swiss German, so that I understood every word). I don't think I can write here who he is or what position he holds. Otherwise, he might get into trouble. He said that here in Ecuador, the socialists are trying to build up a similar monopoly of power as in Venezuela, and something is brewing.

Let's hope not. The people and the country don't deserve it.

I just always wonder what 'socialism' actually means. Surely not what Maduro (the socialist ruler of Venezuela) and his ilk show. I believe that most people are the same when they gain political power. They become insatiable bloodsuckers. And those who wouldn't, are not interested in politics.
Confronted with such facts, I'm quite proud of our Swiss political system. Of course, there are power games, and politicians grind like neither left nor right on their mills. But more subtle, more discreet, with less profit. And if anything crooked comes out, the people kick them out.
Not with us! Ha!

I think that's good!