If you intend to visit Óbidos whilst staying at Caracara Holiday Accommodation then why not enjoy a full day of it and make the extra 15 minute drive to take in what surely must be one of the strangest visitor sites in all of Portugal.     Nestling in rolling hills and built around a large lake is this tribute to Buddha.   The Buddha Eden Garden is an area of about 35 hectares designed and conceived by the notable art collector and philanthropist José Manuel Berardo in response to the destruction of the Giant Bamyan Buddhas, sculpted into the rocks of the valley of Bamyan in central Afghanistan, which had for centuries been regarded as a cultural and spiritual reference.   Sr. Berardo was profoundly shocked by the attitude of the Afghan Government, which intentionally destroyed these unique monuments of World Heritage.   In 2001 he therefore commissioned the construction of these beautiful gardens in honour of the giant Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban.   Entrance to the site is free and it is open from 09:00 until last light or 19:00 whichever they feel is more appropriate!   You should allow about 90 minutes to 2 hours to explore the place fully at a leisurely strolling pace and if the kids want to try something different then put them on the small train that will take them around the site in leisure.   There is a good sized café and a shop where you can buy some quality wines from local Quintas.