In my time on sailing vessels I have been to many ports, from big cities to small tropical islands and have found great things in all of them.  But a port that has everything going on, hitting on all aspects of great port is hard to find.  I have recently come to the conclusion that Lisbon might be the one.  It could be circumstantial but I will explain.
    For starters we have had two weeks of 75 to 80 degrees and sunny, low humidity and a nice force 4 breeze all day long, then going to a calm at night to ward of thought of bringing an extra layer out at night.  (It is important to show off the party shirt.)  Perfect weather to varnish, paint, rig, beach cruise and party hop. 
    The city has incredible ship chandleries, hardware stores, where you can get anything from charts to chain hoists to a new spool of cordage.
    At the basin we currently occupy there is no less then 6 other tall ships doing the same thing and only two of them are local.  Right across the way on the other side of the basin sits the Christian Radich, a full-rigger from Norway.  She pulled in the other day accompanied by a sweet little Z-Drive tug and put me in ecstasy as I watched her dock right across from us.  (I had to belay deck tours for about 15 minutes.)  As a result we have seriously upped our flag routine to try and "out square-rig them."  Great people onboard and tours have been exchanged and much rigging discussed.  On top of the Radich, we have a three-masted schooner from Sweden, a two-masted schooner from Finland, an old Portuguese fishing schooner, a fifteenth-century replica, and a big converted schooner party boat.  Sailors upon sailors to talk with.  I also procured my first freelance-rigging job for the party schooner.  Great fun.
    Lisbon has the weather, wind, ships, beaches, ship amenities, great people, culture, and fun for crew morale.  If there is anything else a port should have, let me know, but to me that is the criteria.

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