TRIPPING OUT: Where, you wonder, were we on our recent vacation? Try Croatia, a wonderful country and the hot summer spot of discerning Europeans, who convene and sun on the few Adriatic beaches (little sand, more coral than anything else) in strips near Dubrovnik, including the old town (Stari Gard) within stone walls, which was the site of a conference my wife was speaking at. The sessions were split between Dubrovnik and Mljet, an island that's a 1 hour, 45-minute ferry ride away and linked to legend, including one about Homer's hero, Odysseus. ...

Getting there was a challenge. The journey was long (nearly 34 hours flight time and three stopovers), but the destination was worth the tedium. It started with a bit of stardust when we spotted mustached Carlos Santana beneath a tell-tale wool cap at San Francisco's international departure area on the same United flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Don't know if he went there to perform; many folks recognized him and he obliged by signing their boarding passes. ...

TUBULAR THOUGHTS: Happily, there were unexpected glimpses of home, amid a TV landscape of mostly Croatian shows that seemed to echo American hits (like a cooking show, a hip take on MTV, and soaps). It was somewhat of a hoot, then, to see Duane "Dog" Chapman, star of "Dog, the Bounty Hunter," one night ... uttering and grunting in Croatian, with Beth doing same. Clearly, there's a lot of dubbing going on. ...

On another evening, there was Daniel Dae Kim, the "Lost" star, not cast away on the unknown island, but levitating — in a guest role on the old series "Charmed." Had no idea what he was saying, but it was a lark to encounter a familiar face. ...

There was comfort in watching CNN, televised from London and in English, with lots of coverage on the World Cup in Germany, now under way. There was golfer Michelle Wie, too, getting a big boost for the European viewers, and her quest to win a tourney. In time, for sure. ...

FURTHERMORE: There were some quirks about Croatia that were quite astounding. Restaurants specialize in seafood, but there's a visible presence of Italian-influenced fare: pizzas and pastas. Most eateries have small indoor dining spaces (six to eight tables) but expansive along-the-corridor seating beneath large umbrellas or canopies. Coffee (or cappucino) is the daily habit for many visitors, no matter the time of day, and Croatian pastry is fabulous, particularly a custard-filled dessert that's a cross between a teacake and cream puff. ...

Public facilities are clean; occasionally, you may have to shell out two kuna (the Croatian money), which is roughly 40 cents. Reminded me of "Urinetown," the Broadway musical, where townspeople had to pay to piddle. ...

Hotels are plentiful and varied; nearly all include a buffet breakfast in the rates. Housekeeping tips, presumably, are not expected; over 10 days (which included three different hotels, because of conference activities), the tips were taken only at one facility, with the kuna left behind at the others. ...

We took two day trips — one to the Croatian countryside, where we saw folk dancers, and another to the newly independent nation of Montenegro, a neighbor of Croatia. Also paused in San Francisco before returning home. Hope to detail some of these adventures in future stories. ...

AND THEN: Meanwhile, back home, we got word that "Movin' Out," the Tony Award-winning musical mounted by Twyla Tharp and boasting music of Billy Joel, is set to premiere Sept. 8 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Ticket details are yet to be announced, but you may want to log the date if you've heard about this dance-oriented production. ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.