Played a game as Portugal, my starting location was a big island (managed to make 9 cities in it, with 4 hexes spacing) surrounded by a generous amount of Pearls, Fish and Oil (plus some Atolls). Obviously, I chose "Tears of the Gods" as my pantheon, and when the religion came, I called it "Rosa dos Ventos" (it is the portuguese word for Compass Rose/Wind Rose, that thing used in navigation). My beliefs were Tithe, Pagodas, Choral Music and Religious Texts.
It was a great themed & diplomatic game, with lots of Naus, GMerchs, cargo ships and MANY overseas allies (both civs and CS). Everything fit perfectly with Portugal's maritime nature. I miss that game...