I'll tell you just about one day and even one evening.
That day I was in Institute trying to decide some trifle questions. They didn't find shift so counting on that I still had some trifle problems to solve they "begged" me to go to town and to fetch some book from one home. I glanced at the map and thought that it was not too close but and not too far from subway stantion.
When I arrived on this station I would wait for the bus, but somehow I decided to walk. I walked by beeline way. Once I made a blunder and moved some kilometers in industrial zone in diametrical opposite direction, (but it was by broad daylight and in summer), so now I decided to get consultation from passerby. The place was desert so he was a bit afraid, but said that it will be a long long way. It would be better that I catch passing bus and then when I would go to the next area ....
- He became bored, I left him. There was railway ahead and he crossed it. Hm I decided to follow him, (I always very conscious about crossing rails but I succeed). Then I continued my beeline and by happy chance have come to highway. There was chance to climb bus again but somehow I decided that that passerby exaggerated difficulties so I strolled again along road.
On one of bus stops I at last climbed into bus and (how wise of me!) I asked people could I reach "DK Setun" bus stop. They said that it's a wrong bus but I can wait three, (three!) bus stops and then make change of buses. I almost stuck to it but then I heard clicking of ticket-punch, - it was a sure sign of coming controllers, so turning my head I discerned two broad policemen's backs, by sure luck I had enough time to light. So I strolled thinking "this crossroad is mine". To glance at street names labels I should walk to every corner house to glance at it and sometimes there weren't such labels at all. I scared to death one boy walking with toy dog so he even forgot the name of his own street. I already regretted that I didn't printed the plan and doubted that so many streets were among the needed street and subway station.
When I reached the street it was really dark, but the finding of the house was easy task. I've got the book and moved back way. At first I had the intention to make even more straight "beeline", but the region was absolutely strange to me, there were really deserted places, (may be garages' areas may be some plant and so on), there was railroad with possible affiliated buildings, so it was too risky. But to return by bus way was doubtful because I didn't know it because I walked by obscure, (for me), yards, (and to return by the same yards was even more unreal).
So there was only chance in getting some kind of transport. It was difficult to stand still so I walked and missed one bus, when I reached the next stop. Then there were busses which weren't going to the station's direction, (I didn't trust labels so I asked people everyone). At this moment I noticed taxi. And, (what a shame) I hailed it. I asked how much it will cost to reach any closest subway station. Driver said that this is the longest idea he ever heard and called 50 rubles! (Bus costs 3 rubles). On my feeble attempts to bargain he pushed accelerator with my door open. (If he was a bit weaker I would wish to make up his mug, but at present I only wanted abuse him by dirtiest words, because he didn't merely refused me but has done it in mostly abusive for my dignity manner. (Of course it was very evasive but I felt it ok)). And more than it why I was loosing time with that brat a right type of bus was on the stop and I missed it and all people who were with me were out on it, (possibly mocking at me).
At last I have got my mostly desirable rescue. It was mini-wan, (I like it because you can buy ticket there easily). It was pretty dark on the street and I was afraid to loose time so I even didn't start to look at its schedule, I madly tried to open the door of it, (it was new technical solution to me - you switch handle on one side of door and then pull by the handle from another side). At last I stepped in and asked where are we going. There were only driver over partition, one sleepy fellow on back row and one pretty and kind girl with fairy hair and fox firs. She kindly explained to me what subway stations we will pass and gave me many precious information about current movements of life. I supposed what is the Kievskaya station like and she answered that it was the finish of the route, (I even began to think about making little chat about it but my gratitude towards this fairy choked my speech). We lighted together and moved towards the subway station, there I lost her.
It was a good lesson to me - don't confide in maps, (it seemed to me that I stolled distance even larger that the distance between Kremlin and remotest outskirts of the city where my home is).