Describe a time when you got lost

I'd like to describe a time when I got lost in Istanbul during my first trip abroad on my own, about three years ago. I had been exploring the old town for most of the day, taking photos and following my phone map, and by the late afternoon, I decided to walk back to my hotel instead of taking a taxi.

The problem started when my phone battery died. I had been using it for everything, including photos, and I had completely forgotten to bring a charger. Suddenly, I had no map, no hotel address and no way of contacting anyone. I remembered the hotel was near a large mosque, but there were several mosques in that area, and all the narrow streets looked the same. After about thirty minutes of walking in circles, it started getting dark, and I felt a little frightened.

Finally, I decided to ask for help. I went into a small shop and, using a mixture of English and a few Turkish words I'd learned, explained that I was staying at a hotel near a mosque. Luckily, the shopkeeper understood, drew a rough map on a piece of paper and even sent his nephew to walk me to the corner of the correct street. I reached the hotel an hour later than planned.

At the time I was anxious, but looking back, it was actually quite an adventure. I discovered a lovely little tea house I'd never have found otherwise. It also taught me to always carry a power bank and a paper map as a backup, and to trust that most people are willing to help.