Melissa Tabeek is a freelance journalist currently in Beirut, Lebanon. You can find her @tabeekmelissa or http://melissatabeek.comTumblr (3.0; @melissatabeek)http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/592c1de83a54a630b1dcd3cbebee0d2f/tumblr_mmosv4MgGD1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A sleepy cat on a cardboard egg carton in a tiny, tired shop. </p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/50254956577http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/50254956577Sun, 12 May 2013 16:16:16 +0300catsbeirutlebanonshopping<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/78fbacf7690bb3b613791fb61689b975/tumblr_mmln7jI3Yr1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Click on the picture to see lots more pictures from Orthodox Easter celebration in Beirut!</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/50108786953http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/50108786953Fri, 10 May 2013 23:21:00 +0300orthodoxeasterchristianbeirutlebanon<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/5aa24d201eaab9265b63e015a4d8787a/tumblr_mmeswc65f01rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>At a mass for the kidnapped archbishops from Aleppo, Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazqi, they handed out these stickers. “Let’s pray for them.”</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49831090187http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49831090187Tue, 07 May 2013 06:41:00 +0300aleppokidnapped archbishopssyrialebanonbeirutcivil war<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/bc1bbcb236cf86515ce89538def3baa9/tumblr_mmaqofo2k61rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><div class="post_content clearfix" id="post_content_49630492755"> <div class="caption"> <p>The “Holy fire,” which is flown from Jerusalem to Orthodox communities throughout the world, is passed from the priest to worshippers at Mar Mitr (Saint Demtrious Church) in Achrafieh, Beirut, on the eve of Easter.</p> <div></div> </div> </div>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49630708752http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49630708752Sun, 05 May 2013 02:02:39 +0300orthodoxorthodox easterholy firejerusalemachrafiehbeirutlebanon<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a58ba52aa69a5f642e4ac1e05ce9f55b/tumblr_mmaqje4xa71rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><div class="aboveUnitContent"> <div class="userContentWrapper"> <div class="_wk"><span class="userContent">Orthodox Easter Eve in Beirut. The “Holy fire,” which is flown from Jerusalem to Orthodox communities throughout the world, is passed from the priest to worshippers at Mar Mitr (Saint Demtrious Church) in Achrafieh. The celebratory fireworks were beautiful but nearly blew my eardrums, especially when one was set off directly behind the crowd. Oops!</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="photoUnit clearfix"> <div class="_53s uiScaledThumb photo photoWidth1" data-gt='{"fbid":"551800684871805"}' data-ft='{"tn":"E"}'></div> </div></p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49630492755http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/49630492755Sun, 05 May 2013 01:59:37 +0300orthodoxorthodox easterbeirutlebanonholy firejerusalemachrafieh<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/a1a902fd6ee5edde84368d80f804d44c/tumblr_mlto5vOzue1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Larnaca, Cyprus.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48863924728http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48863924728Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:49:07 +0300larnacacyprusbeachtourism<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/9f1df76f398237d7ff812f999a2a71d9/tumblr_mlto1dv71k1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>First ride in a Fiat.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48863781489http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48863781489Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:46:00 +0300cypruslarnacatourismfiat<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/726e9e85da0c31b199bced163cf52fd8/tumblr_mltmxj7RNn1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><span class="Apple-style-span">This photo simply doesn’t do justice to how beautiful and big the moon is from my rooftop tonight. Bliss.</span></p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48862517736http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48862517736Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:22:31 +0300beirutlebanonharvest moon<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/2a4c507616a0fc69e392ad5529ef5ed3/tumblr_mlq6lqJ9Zx1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Street graffiti in Larnaca, Cyprus.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48715538939http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48715538939Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:37:02 +0300street graffitigraffitiCyprusLarnaka<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/d8d2739789b4f167c894d2f2bffe2bb8/tumblr_mlq6g4MRaH1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A street in Nicosia, Cyprus, and a daily reminder of the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus, with a lit-up Turkish flag flashing across a hill on their side of the Green Line (See the flag in the right corner - like a rearview mirror, object is larger than it appears).</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48715279550http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48715279550Tue, 23 Apr 2013 23:33:00 +0300cyprusturkish occupationnicosia<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/71546ca2d41d1e44fec13361d32a089c/tumblr_mlq4gxnaBC1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Last day in beautiful Cyprus.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48712048795http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48712048795Tue, 23 Apr 2013 22:50:57 +0300CyprusbeachLarnaka<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/37d457d377e47a5d4b6f3fb45d698adb/tumblr_mlp38cSrmN1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Street market in Cyprus.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48678695967http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48678695967Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:26:36 +0300nicosiacyprusstreet fairflea market<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c2c4094e9b21495602cdc07aea6e6e1d/tumblr_mlp30squjj1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Street art in Nicosia, Cyprus.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48678522115http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48678522115Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:22:00 +0300snow whitegraffiticyprusantifastreet graffitistreet art<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/4076951c0aeae5832acd3f2e0c76c989/tumblr_mljm65HMXS1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48422975914http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48422975914Sat, 20 Apr 2013 10:30:05 +0300beiruti love beirutlebanoncedars<a href="http://melissatabeek.com/2013/04/16/thinking-of-you-boston-from-beirut/">Thinking of you Boston, from Beirut. My blog post.</a>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48108621201http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48108621201Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:34:27 +0300bostonbeirutboston marathon<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/8c9f5a5cd07838e9ebdbec122228e58f/tumblr_mlb1tfWscm1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>A craftsman from Alexandria at the Jeita Grotto, who has been doing this for 15 years, can make an entire scene in a sand-art bottle in about three minutes.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48047420359http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/48047420359Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:29:38 +0300lebanonjeitaegypttourismlebanon tourismjeita grotto<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/bb8d3445f0bb72894deea1a071e83608/tumblr_mk4hknJ8vA1rpc1klo1_r1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><div class="post_content clearfix" id="post_content_46081805303"> <div class="caption"> <p>Portraits from last night’s “One Blood” exhibit at UNESCO Palace by Hady Sy.</p> </div> </div>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/46082372078http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/46082372078Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:53:00 +0200beirutlebanonblack and white photographyone bloodunesco<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/006936b7ddc17dc6c046c6baa6351869/tumblr_mk4h7wCETs1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Portraits from last night’s “One Blood” exhibit at UNESCO Palace by Hady Sy.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/46081805303http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/46081805303Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:45:32 +0200beirutlebanonone bloodblack and white photographyunesco palace<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/8339aef181b8ac5033d4ce4a6b7f204b/tumblr_mjtjeyRhoh1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Beirut light on a rooftop.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/45605426978http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/45605426978Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:59:22 +0200sunsetbeirutlebanonmiddle eastphotographylight<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/c60f9ef8953afb5016e9c2fc33da38b7/tumblr_mjtja3EmRD1rpc1klo1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p>Found a bit of my childhood in a Beirut grocery store.</p>http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/45605191171http://melissatabeek.tumblr.com/post/45605191171Sun, 17 Mar 2013 20:56:26 +0200beirutchildhoodmiddle eastnostalgia