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 | Adventuresfromelle21 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 | Adventuresfromelle21 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 for 2025 & beyond.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Timeless Beauty: Georgian Architecture in Jamaica

Georgian architecture is a style that originated in the early 18th century in Britain during the reigns of the first four King Georges (1714-1830). This architectural style has left an indelible mark on the world with its timeless elegance, balanced proportions and classical design elements. Our colonial ties to Britain led to the emergence of Jamaican Georgian architecture during the late 1700s-1800s, with its emphasis on light and air, and modified to suit the tropical climate of the Caribbean. Despite the negative history attached to Jamaican colonial buildings, I still admire the timeless beauty of our surviving Georgian buildings. With that said, today I’ll share more about Jamaican Georgian architecture as well as nine surviving Georgian buildings across Jamaica worth visiting.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle28 Comments
Poster of Exploring Barranco in Lima Peru

Exploring Barranco: Peru’s Bohemian Art District

Peru is best known for Machu Picchu, its Incan citadel which sits among the new Seven Wonders of the World. However, there’s a lot more to see and do in this diverse and vibrant South American nation. Barranco is one of forty-three districts which make up the capital city and province of Lima, bordered to the north by the upscale district of Miraflores and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Barranco is one of the smallest districts in Lima with a population of under 40,000 people, but what attracts tourists to this cool neighbourhood is its thriving street art scene. Known as the SoHo of Lima, Barranco is one of Peru’s hippest neighborhoods with its colorful murals, quaint bars and coffeeshops, beautiful museums and charming old mansions and summerhouses.  Here’s how my visit to Barranco, Peru’s coolest bohemian art district, went.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments
Drink with straw and lime

What I Ate & Drank in Peru for One Week

I didn’t imagine I’d be completing my Peru series in 2024! I visited Peru in May 2022 for one day shy of a week, and it’s still one of the best experiences I’ve had in my entire life. I still think about this trip often. Oh, to be carefree in the streets of Cusco or Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu once more, to explore new cities on foot, to marvel at the architectural genius which allows ancient, colonial and modern buildings to coexist in harmony and to enjoy the rich cultural tapestry of the Peruvian people! Peru has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE. Modern Peruvian cuisine beautifully marries indigenous food with Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, North and West African immigrant influences. With that said, let’s delve into what I ate and drank in Peru.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments

Soaring High: Three Ways to Fly in Jamaica

Since the beginning of time, humans have been fascinated by flight– perhaps because we admire the talent of winged creatures who can take to the air with ease while we can’t. However, our greatest talent is the ability to use our brains to overcome physical limitations. Thus, the first successful human flight in a powered aircraft was achieved by the Wright Brothers on December 17, 1903 in North Carolina, USA. Fast forward one century later and now flying is seen as commonplace. Flights allow the fastest movement of goods and people, but can still be enjoyed recreationally. With that said, today let’s talk about three ways to fly for fun in Jamaica: through recreational flights with the Aeronautical School of the West Indies, through parasailing, and finally through paragliding.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments

Bluefields Organic Farm Tour, Westmoreland

Farm tours offer a multifaceted experience that benefits both individuals and communities. Among these benefits include: hands-on learning, community building, environmental awareness, cultural exchange, support for local agriculture and my favourite, a deepened connection to nature which promotes health and wellness. One place to experience a farm tour in Jamaica is at the Bluefields Organic Farm in Belmont, Westmoreland. This farm contains 2.3 acres of lush farmland and houses over 60 local and exotic fruit trees, herbs and vegetables. In turn, these trees provide refuge to dozens of birds, many of which are endemic species. Read on to learn why this farm tour deserves a spot on your Jamaican bucket list. To learn about Bluefields’ other offerings, such as their homestays and massages, click here.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle14 Comments

Bluefields Organic Farm: Connect to Nature with a Homestay in Jamaica

Jamaica is a leading Caribbean tourist destination because of its vibrant culture, delicious food, stunning landscapes and warm hospitality. In fact, of the island’s record-breaking 4.1 million visitor arrivals in 2023, 42% represented repeat visits which attests to the beauty of Jamaica and the welcoming nature of its people. The best way to experience authentic Jamaica is to stay with its people: living like they do, eating like they eat and going where they go. Read on to learn six reasons why a homestay at the Bluefields Organic Farm in western Jamaica can allow you to accomplish all that– and then some.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle14 Comments