Off the beaten track

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9 AUGUST 2005
And he's not the only one seduced by Croatia's charms. The king and queen of Jordan also paid a visit to the country during their summer cruise on the Adriatic. Locals in the historic town of Split were left in little doubt that someone of international stature had arrived when not one but two yachts – the 177ft Sarafasa and the 137ft Faribana - dropped anchor in the harbour.

Movie veteran Sean Connery was meanwhile enjoying an even more tranquil getaway in Turkey's Prince's Islands. A short ferry ride from Istanbul, the charming archipelago has banned all motorised transport, helping guarantee a truly serene atmosphere.

Fellow silver screen star Sharon Stone didn't seem particularly interested in peace and quiet when she jetted into the Czech Republic. The Basic Instinct actress made quite an impression on locals when she joined local beauty queen Michaela Malacova, for a night of revelry in the town of Karlovy Vary.

Movie veteran Robert Redford also dropped by, drawn by the town's annual film festival, which is rapidly growing in importance. He and Sharon are not the first big names to come visiting, though, as Beethoven, Chopin and Karl Marx all used to holiday there.