What's the best way to learn the nooks and crannies of a city... get lost in it! :D

So, had a very interesting day today. Took the train into Liège to meet up with some rotary friends. By myself, pretty proud. Get there at around 2:00 pm and no one's there (I found out later they had arranged 1:00 pm to meet at the station not 2:00 pm). No worries though I pull out the cell phone and call up a friend. He has no idea where they are, so he hands me over to Chase, the Australian who's been here for 6 months already. So he gives me directions. I follow them and after a few improvised detours eventually ended up where I thought was the right place. He told me to turn my back to the Cathedral and go to my left. I did so not knowing he meant the other side. So after walking and looking and asking if what I was waiting at was actually the Cathedral I did a complete loopdee loop and came back to the same bloody Cathedral. It was then I got my friend to get of the Café to come meet me. He didn't see me, so I finally figured out it was the other side. Of course by then it was 3:30 pm. Which means I had an hour before I had to leave, half of which was spent just trying to find something to eat. So only half an hour socialization, but at least now I know Liège better :S