Public transport total: In the heart of Switzerland

So, Day 1 of my autumn holiday project has arrived. To ensure I don't lose my work rhythm too quickly, I took a taxi ride to Lucerne train station this morning. It works out nicely, my first excursion starts right there.

With the MS Schwyz, I set off on this gloomy Saturday for a grand boat tour on Lake Lucerne. The Lake Lucerne (French Lac des Quatre-Cantons; Italian Lago dei Quattro Cantoni, Lago di Lucerna; Romansh Lai dals Quatter Chantuns) is a lake surrounded by the Pre-Alps in the Central Switzerland. It lies within the territories of the Cantons Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden (i.e. Nid- and Obwalden) and Lucerne.

The weather is gloomy and rainy. But even ship weather is still ship weather. I love the lake in this attire. The fog, the wisps of clouds, the patter of rain on the ship's deck—somehow poetic and melancholic.

I spend the first part of the journey with an Arabic tourist group. Only the guide speaks a little English. In Vitznau, the group disembarks. They're going to Rigi.

In Brunnen, two nuns join me. They are on an outing to Flüelen. Soon we are deep in conversation about 'Insti.' I show them the legendary Ingenbohler seat, which my mother-in-law always explained to me with a mischievous smile and the necessary seriousness. In Flüelen, the lively conversation ends and the two active ladies leave the ship.

They are succeeded by a lively group. The courageous men from the Bühlmann carpentry shop spend part of their business outing on Lake Lucerne.

By now, I've settled in comfortably. My picnic is complemented by a small bottle of Merlot from the Eichberg winery Eichberg.

A Japanese family with a grandma and daughter boards in Vitznau. They aren't sure where they need to disembark. During the conversation, they then ask for excursion tips and directions to Mount Pilatus. My explanation that I am a Pilatus boy piques their curiosity. I show them some bivouac and sunrise photos, which they respond to with amazed Ahs and Ohs.

In Lucerne, we say goodbye with many expressions of thanks and bows. I hope they really visited Mount Pilatus on Sunday; it would be worth it.

So my holiday has started off promisingly. I'm looking forward to many more exciting encounters. Public transport total, indeed.