Joining me today on episode 15 of “One Happy Podcast - the Officially Unofficial Podcast of the Island of Aruba” is longtime Aruba-phile  Marie Geerman.  Marie has been traveling to Aruba for nearly 30 years and even lived there for about a decade.  Being that Marie is married to an Aruban and has an Aruban born son saying she has a special connection to the island would be a gross understatement.  

Marie’s connection actually goes much further than the people who are important to her, the animals of Aruba also occupy a very large space in her heart. When visiting Aruba it’s hard to not notice the stray dogs roaming the streets eeking out an existence.  When Marie made the move to Aruba she did more than just notice these animals… alot more.

Through the course of this episode you will hear all about Marie’s connection and dedication to those animals. A dedication that started in the early 90’s and continues to this very day.  Now this isn’t your typical episode of One Happy Podcast.  While I hope every episode touches you in some way, none of them will touch you quite like this episode.  

Joining me on this episode of One Happy Podcast is best selling Author Daniel Putkowski.  Daniel is the author of several books including the iconic aruba based An Island Island Away and its followup Under a Blue Flag.  Additionally Daniel also has a fantastic travel blog called the Bentpage that is one of my favorite sources for information about the part of Aruba that is off the tourist trail.

Daniel first visited the island more than 20 years ago on business and has been going back nearly every year ever since. Due to the way he was introduced to Aruba, Daniel was welcomed into the Aruba social scene in a way not many can claim.  It was this insiders of Aruba and particularly the once booming refinery town of San Nicolaas that made his first book An Island Away so authentically awesome!

In this episode you will hear about:

Joining me on this episode of One Happy podcast is a repeat guest, the multi-talented Louis Johnson.  Louis was a guest on episode 6 of the show but this time has brought along a surprise, Aruba first-timer his lovely girlfriend Alyssa.  

Back in February Alyssa and Louis were fortunate enough to be able to escape the harsh New York winter for an incredible week at the Palm Beach Aruba Holiday Inn.  They picked a great time as the Northeast United States was pelted once again pretty much as soon as they touched down

On this episode you will hear Alyssa and Louis talk about the Aruba Holiday Inn and the recent changes (both good and bad) they’ve made, Aruba Carnival, snorkeling at Baby Beach and much more.  If you ask me the real treat you get to see it through the eyes of a newbie.

In this episode you will hear about:

Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Joining me today on One Happy Podcast is International man of mystery Stephen from Toronto or act1966 if you are a member of the forums at aruba.com.  A lover of Aruba, Stephen was kind enough to stop by the podcast to talk about why he feels Aruba is special.  

On this episode you will hear Stephen and I talk about what its like to go from subzero temperatures to the constant meteorological perfection of Aruba.  You will also hear about some of the benefits to renting a villa, something I know many of you have questions about.  

One of the big focuses of this episode of One Happy Podcast is the Aruba restaurant scene.  Stephen and I discuss just how amazing it is that an island so small is able to provide such an outstanding culinary experience.  If you are a foodie this is definitely an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode you will hear about:

What it feels like to go from Canada to Aruba in the dead of winter

Some of the most amazing restaurants in the Caribbean

The advantages of renting a private villa

Where to get the cheapest Patron in Aruba

Today on One Happy Podcast I am joined once again by Maggie G, who you may remember as being the first ever guest of the show.

Recently we returned from a trip to Aruba and here we give a review of some of the highlights of that trip.  

On this episode of One Happy Podcast I have the pleasure of interviewing Desiree Eldering the Managing Director of the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary.  Desiree was kind enough to stop by to tell me all about the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary and its inhabitants.

Now the average tourist visiting Aruba probably never leaves the beaches of Aruba.  Those lucky few tourists who do venture off the beaten path to this Aruban treasure will be able to see and interact with some of the 130+ donkeys cared for at the Sanctuary.

On this episode I spend just under 30 minutes talking to Desiree and one thing that is abundantly clear from the interview is how much she loves the Donkey.  So if you are traveling to Aruba and want to do something a bit out of the ordinary, the Aruba Donkey Sanctuary is a great place to start.

Today you will hear about how Cindy, Rob, family and friends explored and enjoyed our favorite vacation destination.  This was the 20th trip for Rob and Cindy and amazingly enough with the help of Arias Schwarz they were still able to find a new experience on the island.  Think about that for a second.  At this point Rob and Cindy have probably spent close to a full year on an island that is only 19 miles by 6 miles and are still discovering some of Aruba’s treasures.  Simply amazing!

In this episode you will hear about:

Restaurants Mentioned:

Links and Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

On this episode of One Happy Podcast, I am joined by a fantastic guest, Tracey D.  If you are a visitor of the Aruba.com forums, the Aruba section of tripadvisor or the “All Things Aruba” facebook group you may already be familiar with Tracey.  She is a relative newcomer to Aruba but has fallen head over heels in love and is here to share her experiences with us.

If I were to describe this interview in one word, it would be vivacious.  Tracey has an enthusiasm that shines through so much that by the end you will definitely be wanting to book a trip if you don’t already have one in the works.

On this episode of One Happy Podcast, I am joined by noted comedian “Aruba” Ray Ellin.  Ray is here to tell us about the comedy show he is putting on at the Marriot Resort and Stellaris Casino. But that isn’t all, Ray is also a legitimate Aruba fanatic.  

Although Ray has only been visiting the island for a few short years, you’ll see that he has most definitely been making up for lost time.  So whether you are at the gym, grocery store or driving home from work give this episode a listen and prepare to be astounded.

On this latest episode of One Happy Podcast I am being joined by Louis Johnson.  Louis is an Aruba fanatic who is about to embark on his fourth visit to the island.  Louis reached out to me via the One Happy Podcast share your story link expressing an interest in being a guest.  Within a few days everything was set up and we were recording.

Throughout this episode of One Happy Podcast one thing will be very apparent to everyone listening and that is Louis’s passion for Aruba. Being that it is late January many of us are being forced to endure sub-freezing temperatures but believe me when I say this episode is a nice bit of relief from the cold, snow or in my case at the moment freezing rain.  

Over the course of this 40 minute interview we talk about everything from the most amazing view of the sunset at one end of the island to one of the most amazing beaches in the world at the other end.  When this episode is over I guarantee you will either be thanking your lucky star you have a future trip to Aruba planned or will be compelled to start booking your next trip.  Hope you enjoy!