Bobby B

This is really directed to golf fans there in Japan. Is the exciting young female golfer, Hinako Shibuno, playing in a tournament this week, and if so, what is the name of it?

A few years ago I read about a rich African businessman who pays sizable awards to African leaders who govern well and leave office when their terms are completed. Does anyone know the name of this gentleman or the name of his organization? Thanks so much.

In 2000 my wife and I visited Machu Picchu and stayed in a hotel right outside the entrance. It wasn't in Aguas Calientes down below. Is that hotel still in operation? Thanks, Bob

I would like to call the Novotel West Hotel in Zurich from the US. Could you please give me that number? Thanks.

My wife and I would like to take a train trip from Vienna to Madrid at the beginning of April. We've allowed about four days for this trip so we'll be able to stop for some nights along the way. We'd like your suggestions about going through Switzerland, France, and then on to Madrid. Please give as much detailed information as possible about trains, schedules, places of interest, hotels, and any other things you can include. Thanks so much.

I plan to go from Madrid, Spain, to Vienna, Austria, in late April. What are the budget airlines that fly this route? I would be able to go to Slovenia if necessary. There is a Ryan Air flight to Slovenia but it leaves so early in the morning. Thanks.

I am thinking of going to Argentina in March of 2015 and would like to visit Igauzu Falls. From there I'd like to take a bus to Arequipa, Peru. I know it's a long trip but does anyone have any information about this trip? Please include interesting stop offs and places to visit on the way. I've already been to Mendoza and Santiago, Chile, so don't include those places. Thanks so much for your help.

Hello to all of you there in Italy. I'm sorry that I don't know Italian but I hope some of you know English. I just returned from a wonderful vacation in your beautiful country. The history there is amazing! While in Rome on the Metro, I was pickpocketed by two young girls. I realized what was happening and started screaming at the top of my voice and they dropped my little change wallet and bills to the floor. I was able to retreive everything. With the help of a young man, my wife and I were able to take the young girls to the Metro police. They went with us without any resistance. I had read that pickpockets are rampant in the Rome Metro and that the police can't charge anyone under 18. The Metro policeman who spoke pretty good English explained that to me so we dropped the matter. I was really flustered at the time but realized later that I should have asked him to check the identies and ages of the young girls. Sometimes it's difficult to judge the age of a person. During the next few days, my wife and I saw the two girls on the Metro and pointed them out to the police. The police showed no interest at all and had the attitude of "It's not my problem." Can you please explain to me why this is like this. Can these young girls really rob people with impunity? Don't the Italian authorities know that if tourists are routinely robbed, they will stop visiting Italy? Tourism is important to Italy, as it is here in Las Vegas where I live. Does anyone have an answer? Thanks.

I'm on a trip to Italy and am in Florence. I may need to buy a GPS to use. Please tell me if you know of any electronic stores here like Fry's in the US. Thanks so much.

On April 26, 2014, I need a flight from Naples to Palermo. Can you suggest any low cost airlines that fly this route? Thanks, Bobby B

I am sorry that I can't write Italian but I hope you know English. On April 16, 2014, I need a flight from Naples to Palermo, Italy. Are there any low cost airlines that fly this route. Thanks for all your help. Bobby B

In March and April my wife and I plan to visit Italy. I'd love to visit a lovely mountain village like in the Godfather, the place where Michael married the lovely young girl. Are there such places? I will be flying into Florence so it would be nice if the place were located in that area. I think that is Tuscany, isn't it? I need to get some guidebooks and read as much as possible so I will know something about the country. Also, if you have any recommendations about interesting places to visit in and around Florence, I'd like to hear them. Thanks for all your help. Bobby B.

My friend has an old Canon printer in her home that only makes black and white copies. You put the item to be copied on the top, close the cover, and press the button. The blank paper goes in one end and the copies come out the other. It's not connected to a computer in any way. Are printers like this still available? Naturally she could buy one of the all in one printers that connect to a computer but those use the ink cartridges that don't make many copies and are so expensive. If you have any suggestions or know of a new copier like this, please give me the information. Thank you so much.

In 2014 I'm thinking about a trip to Europe. After a stay in Barcelona, I would like to take the train to Florence. I don't want to take the overnight, straight through train. I'd rather stop a few times at some interesting places along the way. Would I be able to buy a ticket that would allow me to stop off in this manner? I would appreciate your help with this but please don't answer unless you have done the trip or have detailed information about it. I'd even consider a bus trip if someone has done this. I know there are flights but I want to see the country. Thanks so much.

I'm so sorry that I don't speak Italian but I have a question for you nice people. I may have the opportunity to spend April of 2014 in Italy. I'd like to rent an apartment in a small town like I see in the movies about Italy but not too far from the big cities so I would be able to take the train to visit the attractions. Do you have any ideas about what towns might be nice to spend a month? Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Very soon I'm going to the UK and will need to call a number in Ystad in Southern Sweden. The number I have has 10 digits, the first of which is a zero. What is the dialing code to Sweden from England? And when dialing the number from England, do I need to dial the zero? Thanks so much for your help.

As I'm going to France this summer, I would like to learn a little French vocabulary. Tonight I was looking at a French vocabulary book on Amazon that included the following information: "it (the book) also includes an enclosed audio MP3." I assume this is a type of recording that has the pronunciation of the words in French. My friend has an MP3 player. Would the audio MP3 player that comes with the book be something that I could load into her MP3 player and listen to? How is this done? Sorry I'm so behind the times in technology. Thanks so much for your help.

A few times during the last couple of weeks I've tried to select a "best answer" to a question I've submitted on YA only to have the site say that the page was unavailable. Later the best answer was selected by the YA committee. Any suggestions? Thanks and take care.

Hello. This summer I'm planning a trip to London. I'll be staying near the London Gatwick area with a family. There is a chance that my friend and I will go to visit a friend that lives in Malmo, Sweden, not too far by train from Copenhagen. I looked in the computer and there's a flight on Baltic Air for $550 per person return. That's $1100 that we could use for doing other things. Do any of you have any suggestions as to how we could get there, by ferry, train, bus, anything? If you are kind enough to answer this question, please include as much specific detail as possible. Thanks and take care.