The most glamorous and storied hotel in the Balkans is 100 years old this month and still packs in the stars from Shakira to David Beckham. Built to accommodate passengers on the Orient Express, Zagreb's Esplanade hotel opened its doors on April 22, 1925. Over time, it has become the centre of the city's social life and a "window on the world," says former manager Amelia Tomasevic, accommodating guests such as former US president Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in its heyday. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES