What I Ate & Drank in Ontario, Canada

Canada is easily one of the most multicultural countries in the world. As such, Canadian food is an interesting collage of dishes from several cultures, ranging from its indigenous people, 17th-18th century settlers and subsequent waves of migrants in more recent decades. What’s eaten across the country also varies by region with seafood being most popular along its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, and game meat like caribou and seals being a major source of protein in the Northwest Territories. In Ontario, their diet consists of the foods which we associate with “western culture” like pancakes and burgers, but there are subtle differences distinguishing Canadian food from American food. Read on to learn more about how I explored Canada through its food & drink.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle15 Comments

Kingston, ON: Exploring Canada’s First Capital

You’re probably wondering. Why did a girl from Kingston, Jamaica end up in Kingston, Ontario? Or not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. My residency program allows me to do an overseas elective and through a friend, I got the opportunity to rotate with a Jamaican specialist now based in Kingston, Ontario. Most British ex-colonies share similar place names which explains why there are “Kingstons” in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Guyana and of course, my beloved Kingston, Jamaica which is a must-visit destination. That being said, before arranging this elective, I’d never heard of this Kingston before but I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. I also had the good fortune of witnessing the solar eclipse from Kingston which I wrote about separately. Read on to learn more about Kingston, Ontario.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle23 Comments

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 | Adventuresfromelle11 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 | Adventuresfromelle18 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 | Adventuresfromelle29 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 | Adventuresfromelle21 Comments