A post-Eiger pause filled with flat whites, reflection, and slow moments in Mürren’s mountain calm.
📅 July 18, 2025
After the dramatic highs (and literal heights) of our Eiger Trail hike, Friday was for recovery. Our legs were sore, our pace slowed, and our only real plan was to not have a plan.
We let the morning linger: breakfast on the balcony, mountain panorama our window, that impossibly green valley below. Mürren knows how to make “rest” feel like a luxury.
Later in the morning, Jonas and I stepped out to give Alina some quiet time.
Jonas and I headed for InSports Café, where I got a strong Aussie flat white and Jonas ordered a kiddycinno — 60% whipped cream, 30% hot chocolate, 10% chocolate candies. He devoured the entire thing with sticky joy.
While Jonas played in the children’s room (Trucks, foam mats, and toys galore), I sat outside on the deck with my bullet journal. Two weeks into this trip, and this was the first time I’d opened it. Blogging had become the default, but this felt different. Slower. More honest. There’s something sacred about handwriting thoughts no one else will read.
But where to begin?
Fourteen days of memories, mountains, trains, and toddler energy — how do you make sense of that in a single sitting? I turned to ChatGPT for help.
Me:
I’m sitting down for 30 minutes to journal about our trip and Switzerland, but I am at a loss for words. What three prompts could help guide my reflections?
ChatGPT:
- Where did I feel the most awe or wonder?
- How did we grow closer as a family on this trip?
- What will I carry home with me—not in my suitcase, but in my heart?
And so I wrote.
About the views from the Eiger Trail.
About hiking the Alps in 2013, 2016 as a son with my parents, and now 2025 — this time as a father.
About watching Jonas grow through every climb, every conversation, every meltdown and recovery.
About gratitude — not just for the beauty, but for the friction too. The travel tiffs, the trail fatigue, the small annoyances. Because working through those is what bonds us deeper.
“Now this trip hasn’t been all Alpine-Ecstasy and vacation tranquility — there have been some fights. But working through challenges and relying on one another ultimately binds us closer together.”
After enjoying my Aussie Flat White so much, I went in to indulge in a 2nd cup. I went up to the InSport Cafe counter and the barista commented how I seemed to really enjoy my time outside journaling. I confirmed and complimented the coffee.
The owner, Belinda, told me the next flat white was on the house, as a thank you for being a regular at the cafe. I thanked her for her generosity, but insisted on paying for the coffee.
She smiled and said, “How about this, you leave a review on Google and we’ll call it even.” I smiled and said, “I would love to!”
So, I went back to my table and wrote the best review of my entire life (ChatGPT helped me clean up the 2nd draft).
Curious about what I wrote?
Check out my Google Review on InSport (Coffee Bar & Sport Store)
After our café reflections, we wandered back through town. Mürren’s chalet balconies were bursting with geraniums, wild alpine daisies danced in the breeze, and every wooden fence seemed to cradle a flower box.
A young goatherd led her little herd right through the streets of Mürren.
Dinner was quiet. Hearts full. Bodies rested. No grand adventures today — just the kind that stick.
🏙️ Highlights of the Day
InSports Café – Aussie flat white + kiddycinno = perfect post-hike recovery. (My review here)
Balcony Views – A lazy morning with clouds, coffee, and quiet reflection.
Journaling Time – Putting pen to paper after two weeks of travel stories.
🧳 Parenting & Perspective
Slowing down is part of the journey.
Today reminded me that memory-making doesn’t always require motion. Sometimes it’s in the pause — sitting side-by-side, scribbling down thoughts, or simply sipping something warm while your kid plays nearby.
🏛️ Travel Tips
InSports Café: Near Mürren Sports Center. Great playroom, excellent coffee, outdoor patio.
Journaling: Don’t pressure yourself to write every day. When you do, let it flow — even with AI’s help.
Rest Days: After a big hike (like the Eiger Trail), plan a full day to recover and wander locally.
✨ Favorite Quote or Moment
Listening to Jonas play in the cafe, while I journaled outdoors in the cool air.
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