Pullman Auckland to Tauranga private car — Giulia's family visit

The air outside the Pullman Auckland was still sharp with late August, the kind of morning where you can see your breath if you’re not careful, and I wanted a good coffee before starting. It was just shy of 8 AM, the city still blinking itself awake. My passenger, Giulia, was meeting me in the lobby. I’d been given a brief note: Italian, travelling for family. That’s usually enough for me to get a picture, but not always. Italy, I’ve found, can mean a dozen different regions, each with its own flavour, its own take on life. I parked the van where I always do, just around the corner, then went in. She was easy to spot: small suitcase, a splash of bright scarf against a dark coat, looking a little lost but with a determined set to her jaw. She smiled when she saw me, a quick, genuine flash. We headed out to the car, the engine already warm, ready to roll south.