Added value

Stopovers and layovers in America always provide me the opportunity to see interesting things.

A few years ago, I went to Amsterdam with a stopover in Philadelphia. I enjoyed seeing some familiar buildings from that plane window vantage. Were those the steps that Rocky ran up in the movies? I thought so.

On this trip, I landed at Reagan International. I was offered a choice between a cab ride and a less expensive shuttle van. I went with the van, and I wasn't the only one: lots of people with many different places to go.

What resulted was a nice midnight tour of DC, complete with commentary from the driver; all sorts of buildings, monuments and memorials visible along the route. It ended with my stop. I may have many hours left to wait, but I'm happy to have occupied two of them with that unexpected bonus.