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

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 | Adventuresfromelle12 Comments

Embracing A Cottagecore Lifestyle in Jamaica

Cottagecore is a term I first heard late last year, and I instantly fell in love. I realize I was already living by and gravitating towards several of its principles for years; I just didn’t know about the terminology. For starters, cottagecore is an aesthetic and lifestyle movement of the 2010s which celebrates rural living and places an emphasis on nature, traditional skills, and a slower pace of life. In Jamaica, our version of cottagecore is ital– the lifestyle Rastas have been promoting since the 1930s which prompted them to move out the city, establish off-grid villages with their own schools and live off the land. Here’s what cottagecore is all about + how to embrace this lifestyle in Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle12 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

What’s One Question You Hate to Be Asked?

Caribbean culture is quite intrusive and nosy so you’re bound to get uncomfortable questions and receive unsolicited comments and advice a lot. I suppose it’s the same in many other cultures too, but it’s a part of my culture which I can’t stand. For the most part, I’ve grown used to it but it still manages to catch me off guard sometimes. Relationships, marriage prospects, your fertility, weight, health, dress, hairstyle, skin, career, politics, religion, you name it– it’s not off limits in casual conversation at family get togethers or with coworkers, acquaintances or even complete strangers and my patients! In answer of today’s WordPress prompt, here’s why questions about career are the ones I hate to be asked about the most.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle42 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