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Miami Airport Provides Therapy Dogs For Nervous Passengers

They’re called MIA Volunteer K-9 Ambassadors, and human handlers lead them around to stop for friendly visits with people waiting for flights. Similar programs are operated in Los Angeles, Denver and other airports.

Before you reach out to pet an airport therapy dog or any other strange animal, your travel4seniors.com editor has a story to tell. I’ve had furry pets and many encounters with trained working dogs, and never had a problem … until last year’s Halloween night. While attending a street parade, I approached a woman who said her big canine was in training to be a therapy dog.

I petted him, not realizing he was highly stressed from the loud music and crowds. Suddenly he snapped his jaws on my hand, making a large, deep bite. It resulted in an ambulance ride to the hospital and a dozen stitches to close the wound. Conclusion: Whether in an airport or anywhere else, be aware that even the most domesticated and trained dogs are animals. When they’re suddenly nervous or frightened, the attack instinct can take over with painful results.

NYC memories: Mulberry Street, Little Italy, 1905

Little Italy, NYC

This colorized photo shows the typical scene, when the immigration of Italian families to America was at its height. In the decade, nearly a million came from Tuscany, Lombardy, Sicily and other parts of the old country.

Little Italy and adjoining Chinatown in Lower Manhattan are on the National Register of Historic Places. For sightseeing, shopping and great dining, next time you’re in New York City, be sure to visit.

How to keep trim on all-you-can-eat cruise

Popeye

The food is there and everywhere on a cruise, all very attractive and available nearly every hour of the day and evening. You’re on vacation. Live it up! The brisk sea air enhances your appetite. So why not enjoy it all, plus more, and then some?

According to travel statistics, the average adult gains a pound a day on a cruise. Think of what you’d drag home after a three-week voyage. Despite the temptations, there are ways to keep from gaining weight on a cruise.

1. It’s OK to try the buffet, and you can enjoy all the delish varieties. Just take small portions of healthy salads, vegetables (including Popeye’s cooked or raw spinach), lean meat, seafood and poultry. Stay away from deep fried anything. Go easy on fatty meats, gravy, bread, butter, cookies and cakes. Make it a fresh piece of fruit for dessert and between-meal snacks.

Florida: Getting close up and personal with a lily

Red lily

A flower-loving traveler shoots a blooming blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus) at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami , Florida. The Garden is an natural oasis of palms, cacti, cycads and other tropical plants.

The blood lily, which is native to North Africa, also goes by names such as football lily, poison root and fireball lily. It’s very hardy, and its bulbs can flourish in both indoor and outdoor conditions except in very cold climates.

American Airlines helps GIs, kids and vets

AA is a solid backer of the U.S. military. The airline is proud that 60 percent of its pilots are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. They include some currently-active duty reservists who are taking a year or more out of their careers to serve in current deployments.

AA is the official airline of the USO, which provides entertainment for our Armed Forces personnel all over the world. AA also participates in various free programs to fly current and retired service veterans to rehab and other destinations.

AA also sponsors Snowball Express, which provides flights to free vacation destinations for young kids of service personnel who’ve lost their lives in Middle East combat.

Avoiding hotel rooms reeking of old cigarettes

Smoking chimp

Q: I’m a lifelong non-smoker and am grateful there’s a growing trend in hotels and terminals to ban cigarettes totally. However, too many hotels and motels still allow it in rooms. Often, even in designated non-smoking rooms, lingering odors of decades-old burned tobacco make the room very unpleasant.

How can I avoid booking those smelly rooms?

Marian P., Boston MA