# harbor was not easy to spend the winter in

"harbor did not sufficiently protect docked ships during winter storms"

# harbor

a place near land that is usually safe for ships

# city of Phoenix

Phoenix was a port city on the south coast of Crete. 

# to spend the winter there

"to stay there for the cold season"

# facing both southwest and northwest

These directions are based on what one sees as one faces the setting sun. Northwest is a little to the right of the setting sun, and southwest is a little to the left of the setting sun.