Who knew?  Outside of Lisbon, only 15 minutes from Óbidos, there is Europe’s largest Asian garden with the largest collection of Buddhist statues. What in the world?  The passion of Joe Berardo, a Portuguese businessman (who also happens to have modern art museum in Lisbon), he took it upon himself to save Buddhist statues in Afghanistan before they were destroyed by the Taliban.  He decided to create this meditation garden on his estate, covering over 86 acres. It is literally right on our way back to Lisbon, needless to say, we aren’t missing this!

And good thing we didn’t.  This place is just astonishing.  From Koi ponds to bamboo forests to Japanese gardens and ponds, to Giant Buddha statues and pagodas dotting the landscape, an African art garden, contemporary art by international artists, a replica roman theater, bizarre hands lining the top of the theater, what look like weird metal thrones made of recycled junk, a great little café by the giant buddha with wine and beer (a must after walking all over the park), even 600 hand-painted replicas of the Chinese terracotta warriors, oh, and a vineyard to boot – we could definitely spend a whole day exploring all the parkland and nooks and crannies.  As it is, we only have a couple of hours before we have to get back to beat the sunset (just easier driving in the daylight) but we make the most of the time we have.

Enjoy the pictures…..

Dinner at home yet again – we have so many leftovers!  Plus – we’re heading to Orvieto where we no we’ll be eating out. Tomorrow, Italia!