Sam Spade wrote in
:

Could it have been, "Cleared for the ILS 16 approach. Circle to land
Runway 34."

You are correct Sam, that was the clearance. The word or wasn't in the ATC
transmission.

You could have then requested clearance to land Runway 16.

I took it as a "choice" rather then a directive? If so, then I messed up
big time?

Tower cleared me to land 16 when I checked in.

Allen