Bob Marley: One Love Movie Premiere (No Spoilers!)

Bob Marley is one of the most famous Jamaicans of all time and his legacy lives on through his family and timeless music. Hailed as the King of Reggae, the Bob Marley: One Love movie celebrates his brief life from the humblest of beginnings in rural Jamaica and his eventual rise to superstardom. The movie was made in partnership with Hollywood producers and his family, and was shot in Jamaica and the UK. I was fortunate to win a fan ticket to this movie premiere via the Jamaica Observer, so here’s a review of the movie launch and why I believe this film is a must-see when it launches on February 14, 2024 in theatres worldwide. No spoilers, I promise!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle36 Comments

Explore the Grandeur of Greenwood Great House

Perched on a hill high above Jamaica’s northwestern coast and overlooking the Caribbean Sea is the Greenwood Great House. Built by the wealthy Barrett family of UK’s Wimpole Street between 1780 and 1800, Greenwood was originally intended as a guest house. The Barretts amassed their wealth from the heinous trade of sugar and slaves, and traces of that brutality are still visible within Greenwood’s walls today. The Great House also offers a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the island’s elite during the 18th and 19th centuries, and houses an extensive collection of antiques as well as the island’s largest collection of rare musical instruments and plantation library books. I recently took this tour courtesy of Get Your Guide, so today, allow me to take you on a journey through time as we explore the mansion and discover the stories hidden within its well-preserved walls.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle6 Comments

Best (& Worst) Time To Visit Jamaica, As Told By A Local

Another question I get asked a lot from prospective tourists to Jamaica is “When’s the best time to visit?” It’s a very difficult question to answer (just like “which Jamaican city to visit?”) because that largely depends on personal tastes. Generally speaking, the most popular time to visit Jamaica is during the northern hemisphere’s winter months of December to April as during this period, the weather is typically dry, warm, and comfortable, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (24-29°C). However, this is also the peak tourist season for the island, so you can expect higher prices and larger crowds, especially around Christmas and New Year’s. With that said, I’ve decided to answer this question with the pros & cons of visiting Jamaica in each month of the year!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

Beyond Conquest: What the Spanish Left in Jamaica

Did you know that at one point in history, Jamaica was Spanish speaking? The first Europeans to colonize Jamaica were the Spanish and they occupied the island from 1509 until 1655 when the British invaded and captured Jamaica. Though their time in Jamaica was relatively brief, Spanish colonization in Jamaica still left a lasting impact. Today, let’s talk about four legacies of former Spanish rule and settlement in Jamaica.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle16 Comments

Where’s the Best Place to Visit in Jamaica?

As a local travel blogger, I often get asked where to visit by first-time visitors. Jamaica, a vibrant and culturally rich island in the Caribbean, is renowned for its stunning landscapes, reggae music, and warm hospitality. Each town in Jamaica possesses its own unique charm, so to get an authentic Jamaican experience you have to visit at least two or three towns. If you think an all-inclusive hotel stay where you never leave the resort, or visiting one corner of the island will give you an accurate representation of Jamaica, forget about it! In this article, we will take a journey through some of Jamaica’s seven best towns and cities (including pros and cons!) to help you make the best choice about where to visit in Jamaica for a real taste of the island.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle20 Comments

8 Things to Do in Port Royal for 2026 & Beyond

Port Royal is a historic town located on Jamaica’s southeastern coast in the capital city of Kingston, the island’s second UNESCO World Heritage Site. Port Royal is famous for its rich maritime history, vibrant culture, and significant role in Caribbean piracy during the 17th century. Originally settled by the Spanish in the late 15th century, the British captured Port Royal in 1655 and quickly developed the town into a major centre of commerce and trade due to its strategic location, natural harbour and proximity to shipping routes. During the late 17th century, Port Royal gained notoriety as a hub for piracy, privateering and lawlessness, earning it the nickname “Wickedest City of the West.”

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle19 Comments

2023 Year in Review

Where to start? What a year it has been! For starters, Adventures from Elle turned seven (7) years old yesterday, which means it’s been seven years of intentionally exploring Jamaica and recording it all in this public journal. When I started Adventures from Elle in 2016, I had no idea it’d bring me this much joy, or allow me to meet or e-meet so many persons, or even have paid opportunities and collaborations. My blog has brought a lot of meaning to my life, and I’ve seen growth in my audience, style of writing and more. I’ve also managed to keep my blog alive with new posts every Friday despite often having weeks or months on end with no new adventures. With that said, here’s a recap of my 2023.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle33 Comments

The Olympia Art Gallery in Saint Andrew

Nestled in the heart of Kingston, Jamaica’s capital city, the Olympia Gallery stands as a testament to the island’s rich artistic heritage and its thriving contemporary art scene. What’s interesting about this gallery is that it is housed inside a residential complex, designed and built in the mid-1970s by Jamaican civil engineer A.D. Scott. As an avid art patron and sometime sculptor, he wanted to create a residential hotel within a centre for the arts. Forty years later, his vision still lives on. Here’s why you should pay a visit to this free art gallery in Kingston, Jamaica: the Olympia Gallery.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle24 Comments

Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park, Westmoreland

Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park is the closest I’ll get to visiting Nigeria for a bit. When the first indentured Nigerian labourers were taken to Westmoreland, Jamaica after Emancipation, they noticed the similarities of their plantation to the beautiful plains and highlands of Abeokuta in southern Nigeria. Thus, when the Abeokuta Paradise Nature Park was officially opened on January 5, 2003 by the Nigerian High Commissioner to Jamaica, it was renamed to honour its resilient ancestors. Located in Dean’s Valley/Water Works, Westmoreland, the park occupies 15 acres of land and possesses the oldest swimming pool in Jamaica which is nearly 500 years old! In fact, this is possibly one of the world’s oldest infinity pools and nears Olympic pool dimensions at an astounding 71 feet long and 47 feet wide, ranging from 4 to 10 feet in depth. Here’s what to expect at this hidden gem and historic slice of paradise.

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle30 Comments

Festive Menus to Try This Christmas in Jamaica

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As such, I’ve written many articles about Christmas in Jamaica, including one about our unique Christmas carols and another about the interesting phenomenon of Christmas breeze. Most of those articles were written in 2020 for Blogmas when I had had more time to spare. Nonetheless, I think it’s time for a sequel to my 2020 article on festive eats as so many other restaurants and bars have hopped on the seasonal menu bandwagon and I’m here for it!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle27 Comments