Getting Lost: 101

It was recommended to me by a co-worker that the best way to learn how to navigate a new area was to just drive around and get lost.  You then try to find your way back.  I guess if you have all day and a full tank of gas, thats not a bad idea, but i dont recommend doing it with small back roads.  I pulled into a parking lot hoping to find a decent fan in a home furnishing store.  It was a 4 story place with a lot of good stuff but no fan.  Oh yea, did i mention parking spots aren't always marked? This block had a 50' by 30' plaza like bricked off area on the corner, if your car can make it on the curve, its fair parking.  I generally dont prefer one way streets, but sometimes you just get stuck in them.  After spending 5 minutes driving about 30 yards down one street, and 15 yards down another street,  i see a store with some electronics and a appliance like store next to it, and guess what, there was a spot open so i pull in.  No fan, but i did find a place to buy xbox 360 games for about $3, and a hacked xbox 360 for about $375.  I walked around the shops for a while and was reminded of vacations south of texas. you ever go to mexico and find a long alley with a bunch of little shops packed full of fake stuff?  it had that feeling. I finally find an electronics store with a fan so i try to head back.  After about 25 minutes of driving through horrible traffic spanning a few small one way streets, i find myself on a bigger road but have a very slim idea about where i am since the back roads turned a few times and didn't spit me out on the same road.  After about 15 minutes of driving down different streets, i see the persian gulf and know where i am.  Overall i was gone for an hour and a half, got a fan, found a few neat little shops so it was a good evening.  Big Guy, Mom, if you have any souvenir requests (shirt, coffee mug, shot glass, hookah, tea set,..) just let me know or there's no telling what you're gonna get.