I'm back from ABQ, and have a couple of observations.

First, the public transportation to the airport is very good. There are two bus lines that go there frequently from the Alvarado transit center, and a ride costs a buck.

The Sunport is a very cute airport, uncrowded and easy to navigate. Aesthetically, it had a folksy western feel, and it was nicer than airports I'm accustomed to (JFK, LGA).

I had a moment of profound culture shock during my airport dropoff. When the driver stopped in front of the terminal, and it was just me and him there. A couple of empty cabs, no people, no traffic, nothing else. I asked where's the terminal? He said I was right in front of the main terminal.

Albuquerque's just so, SO different from NYC, LHR, IST, LAX and other cities I've flown to. I could not believe the solitude in front of the main terminal. This experience above all drove home the remoteness of Albuquerque.