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Please let me introduce myself: arf, arf, arf, arf. I am Fogo Ramiro Mendes Santiago. I was named after a fabulous volcanic island, Fogo [meaning Fire!], home to an amazing man who was my host and took wonderful care of Amistad and her crew while they were in Cape Verde. I had my beginnings in Tarrafal on another island, Santiago. There, I was rescued by a lovely lady, the captain of Amistad, and a kindly gentleman, the engineer of the same vessel. I was a ball of fur and fleas (among other things) when they discovered me. They made a call to the boat and, after something about a "majority ruling", I was brought aboard.
The first thing I remember is soapy, warm water, and being scrubbed all over, and being picked at. The cook-lady made me some oatmeal with warm milk and that was yummy to the tummy. A little box was made for me with warm, comfy towels.
Life down here at human foot level is pretty exciting. I get to romp and play on deck, when weather permits. I spend time in the aft cabin: I like bunk-hopping and cuddling. There is a nook under Auntie Eliza's bunk that is my special napping place. There are wonderful, cool places on the sole and shady spots on deck. Napping right under legs is good, too! Then there is nipping at toes. I think they are trying to break me of that, because Auntie Dani made me a stuffed foot out of something she calls a tee-shirt sleeve, and a stuffed doll with two heads.
I can get down to the second step, but my people always stop me. They don't want me to fall and hurt myself, but I really want to see what is down in those other places. Especially the one that Auntie Dani comes out of with the white bowl. Sometimes she lets me lick that bowl when she is done. I like catching fish, especially the flying ones.
Then there is the potty thing. Quentin, I hear, will be pleased to know that the deck gets buckets and buckets of salt water after I do my thing. And the sole, well, that gets lots of Dawn clean-ups every day. Daddy Ben made me a Fogo rag to clean up my spills. They want me to learn to use the box in the aft cabin where the people go. I really just like to go in and drink the water that is in a bowl for me. I have had all my shots and I have a passport.
Well, it's time for a nap; the shade is just right. Barbados looks really beautiful from Amistad.
Arf, arf, arf!
Fogo
Seadog-in-training
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Travelogue 
