A Guide to Public Transport in Ontario

The most important (and expensive) part of booking a trip from the Caribbean is the plane ticket. After crossing that hurdle, your next thought should be how do I affordably maximize the time between departure and my return ticket home. The cheapest way to get around will always be via public transport. Taking public transport in a foreign country can feel daunting, but it’s completely doable. So, here’s my guide to public transport in Ontario, Canada and the pros and cons of taking public transportation overseas.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle7 Comments

Experience Jamaican Maroon Culture at These Three Festivals

Jamaica, with its rich history and vibrant culture, boasts numerous festivals and celebrations that are deeply rooted in its heritage. Among these are the Maroon Festivals which pay homage to the resilient spirit and traditions of the Jamaican Maroons – direct African descendants who escaped slavery and formed their own communities in the rugged interior of the island. The island’s three Maroon Festivals each offer a unique insight into Jamaica’s African cultural retention: namely the Accompong Maroon Festival, the Charles Town Maroon Festival, and Kromanti Fest. Here’s why you should pay these three festivals a visit.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle8 Comments

48 Hours in Niagara Falls

I had the blessing of visiting Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada days before its largest crowd in history as it welcomed visitors for one of Earth’s most incredible celestial events– a total solar eclipse. Niagara Falls is a city in southern Ontario on the western banks of the Niagara River which creates a stunning waterfall by the same name. Niagara Falls is Canada’s # 1 tourist attraction, hosting approximately 12 million visitors per year which is astounding given that the city has a population of under 90,000 residents. High season for Niagara Falls lies within the summer months of June to August. I visited in late March during off season where daytime temperatures are in the single digits (°C) and several attractions such as the boat cruises are still closed. However, I enjoyed the luxury of no wait times which is the usual complaint of tourists to Niagara Falls, so this may be the best time to visit. Feel free to steal my 2-day Niagara Falls itinerary.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

A Day Well-Spent in Downtown, Toronto

Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia, yet is very sparsely populated with 90% of its 40 million people living within 150 miles of its USA border. Being a holder of a Jamaican passport, I required a visa to visit and that process was very lengthy since I applied in the first few months of the pandemic. By lengthy, I mean TWO whole years. Things seem back to normal now as my partner got his within in a fortnight, so my experience was likely the exception and not the rule. Nonetheless, my multi-entry visa came through eventually and we got around to visiting three cities in Canada’s largest province of Ontario before I settled down for an observership in respirology, my main reason for visiting Canada.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

3 Jamaican Festivals Worth the Journey

The jewel of the Caribbean, Jamaica, is not only famed for its breathtaking landscapes and vibrant culture but also for its lively festivals that celebrate the island’s rich heritage. Among the myriad of events that dot our calendar, several stand out as must-visit experiences for any traveler seeking to immerse themselves in the essence of Jamaican culture. I wrote about our annual Jamaican food festivals and music festivals last year, however there are some more experiences which didn’t fit into these categories but deserved the mention. Each of these 3 festivals offers a unique glimpse into different aspects of Jamaica’s soul, from its literary prowess to its sporting legacy. With that said, today let’s talk about three Jamaican festivals worth the journey.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle10 Comments

Solar Eclipse 2024: A Rare Celestial Spectacle

Have you ever happened to be in the right place at the right time? That’s how I felt being in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on April 8, 2024 to witness this rare celestial spectacle. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking all or part of the Sun’s light from reaching the Earth. This alignment creates a shadow on the Earth’s surface, leading to a transient period of darkness. Believe it or not, solar eclipses happen almost every year but what made yesterday’s eclipse so fascinating is that it casted a densely populated region into total darkness, something which southern Ontario had not seen in nearly 700 years. Usually, solar eclipses tend to happen over water and cover a narrower area.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle15 Comments

5 Places in Jamaica Which Remind Me Of “Foreign”

For now, my travels have mostly been local because it’s cheaper, involves less planning, less packing and little to no time-off. It’s also very satisfying to explore my own home. However, I still dream of traveling to distant shores when the time is right and as such, I spend an enormous amount of time watching and reading about travel. During my local adventures and travel research, here are five places in Jamaica which remind me of foreign destinations I’ve seen online.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Shafston Great House, Westmoreland

Great houses are remnants of colonialism in Jamaica, built between the early 1700s to the mid-1800s. A great house was the seat of authority on the plantation, home to its owner or representative. Generally speaking, greathouses had two floors typically made of brick or cut stone, but the second floor was sometimes constructed of wood. At slavery’s peak, there were about 700 of these homes across Jamaica but fewer than 100 remain today due to a combination of fires from slave revolts and eventual neglect or demolition by its owners. Exploring great houses may be seen as morbid given the ghastly history of enslavement they represent, but I enjoy visiting for the architecture. They also serve as a reminder to celebrate how far my people have come. With that said, here’s how I ended up at the Shafston Great House in Westmoreland.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle17 Comments

Five Museums You’ll Want to Visit in Jamaica

The island of Jamaica, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant music scene and rich cultural heritage, offers both locals and visitors the opportunity to delve into its history and artistry through its diverse array of museums. These museums provide a captivating journey into the heart of Jamaican culture, revealing the island’s colourful past and traditions. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best five museums in Jamaica that offer a glimpse into the country’s dynamic heritage.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Shamrock in Jamrock: Jamaica’s Irish Legacy

St. Patrick’s Day is an annual cultural and religious holiday celebrated on March 17, and a public holiday in Ireland, Northern Ireland, some Canadian provinces and in Montserrat, the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean. It commemorates the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. While St. Patrick’s Day has religious origins, the holiday has evolved into a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage where people wear green, decorate with shamrocks and often indulge in Irish whiskey and beer, particularly the iconic Irish stout Guinness. Jamaica does not celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in any shape or form, but since the holiday is just around the corner, I thought it fitting to share five facts about Jamaica’s rich Irish heritage.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle11 Comments