The Tullmann Travels

Foggy Mürren stroll, wildlife finds, and alpine grocery fromage quest.

📅 July 7, 2025

After traveling over 24 hours from California to Mürren, Switzerland, we were jetlagged and running on fumes. None of us slept well, so we decided to take it slow and embrace a recovery Monday.

We’re staying in a cozy three-bedroom chalet on the edge of Mürren—a car-free mountain village perched on a cliffside. The walk to the train station takes just a few minutes, but even the shortest stroll here feels special.

Bundled up in jackets, we stepped out into the foggy morning. The temperature hovered in the 40s°F, and the quiet streets—damp with rain—were completely empty. With no cars in the village, all we could hear was our own footsteps. The silence was refreshing.

Jonas was excited and playful. He wandered ahead of us, exploring the misty paths, and made discoveries everywhere—slugs, snails, even a baby Salamander crawling across the trail. His wonder set the tone for the day.

We climbed up to a hidden playground where he got to burn off some energy before continuing our walk past wooden chalets, colorful flower boxes, and unexpected glimpses of the mountains through the clouds. One of our favorite moments: spotting a small edelweiss flower—the white alpine bloom symbolic of Switzerland and Austria.

Eventually, we made our way to the main street and into one of our favorite spots: Coop, the village grocery store. With a stove, oven, and fridge in our apartment, we planned to do most of our own cooking. But grocery shopping in a foreign country has its quirks—especially in the cheese aisle.

Swiss German labels, dozens of cheese types, and zero English made for a smelly gamble on our first trip. (One cheese was so pungent, we gifted it to our Airbnb host.) But this time, we had a secret weapon: ChatGPT.

I snapped a photo of the cheese shelf and asked which ones were popular with American travelers. Here’s what it recommended:

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🧀 ChatGPT’s Top 5 Swiss Cheeses for Travelers

• 1. Raclette
  • 🔹 Creamy and melty, perfect over potatoes
  • 💡 Use: Dinner melts, wraps
  • 💰 CHF 3.50–6.00
• 2. Gruyère AOP
  • 🔹 Nutty, firm, and classic
  • 💡 Use: Sandwiches, pasta, cheese boards
  • 💰 CHF 4–7
• 3. Fresh Mozzarella (Galbani)
  • 🔹 Mild and kid-friendly
  • 💡 Use: Pizza, salads, sandwiches
  • 💰 CHF 2.50–4.50
• 4. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 🔹 Familiar flavors, easy breakfast spread
  • 💡 Use: On bread, wraps, or veggie dip
  • 💰 CHF 2.50–3.50
• 5. Appenzeller
  • 🔹 Aromatic, aged, and bold
  • 💡 Use: Cheese boards, pasta, with fruit
  • 💰 CHF 5–8

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We found other uses for ChatGPT to help us with unfamiliar products…

We loaded up our grocery bags and made the walk back home, pausing to pet the friendly village cat. The rest of the day was simple: resting, reading, cooking, and trying to stay awake.

For dinner, we roasted potatoes, added chopped chicken and tomatoes, and melted Raclette cheese over the whole pan. A warm, comforting end to a quiet day.

Returning to Mürren feels like returning to a dream. Even a foggy walk turns magical here. It brings us back to our first trip when we fell in love with this place and declared it our favorite destination in the world.

Later in the week, we met an elderly couple from Britain who echoed that love. They’ve returned to Mürren every year since 2008 and have even tried to buy a home so they can retire here full-time. We completely understand why.