help, please!! advice on a nine day pilgrimage

[Deke]

I'm a photographer on a 9-day pilgrimage, working on a magazine assignment that came up suddenly. we want to photograph portions of the entire trail, from the Pyrenees to Santiago and needing to be discriminate. We fly in to Madrid on April 12 and will board a train. question is; do we need to begin at Saint Jean Pied-de-Port? it's difficult to get to and not sure it's worthy of the time. perhaps begin at Pamplona or Bayonne? we're planning 3 days in the Pyrenees and will then jump to the Meseta and end in Santiago. I'm looking for diversity in landscape and interchanges between natural and man-made, agriculture, etc. I'd be especially grateful for any insights for how to cover the trail within these three regions or other suggestions, as well. many thanks! /ray

 

[Deleted member 3000]

perhaps begin at Pamplona or Bayonne? we're planning 3 days in the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are before Pamplona, so that won't work unless you are in a car. There are stretches where the scenery is repetitive, so you could take a taxi or a bus when you are not enjoying a particular stretch. With only nine days (including three in the Pyrenees), you will need to skip a LOT.

 

[Deke]

dear Falcon; thanks for your insights. i'm reconsidering trying to cover so much ground. my story is about "walking", as a meditative form that opens possibilities for seeing. if we spend a major period of our time in transit, we'll have less time to immerse in walking experience. can you provide your insights on our new proposed trail...from Ponferrada to Santiago. would this offer diverse landscape and what I've outlined? again, big thanks! /ray
p.s. do we need to have our credential stamped from the very beginning to allows to stay in allergies? thx!

 

[whariwharangi]

You need a credencial to stay at Albergues, however, there is no criteria on where you start or finish.

Its only the granting of a compostela that has conditions and they are that you walk the last 100 km to Santiago (on any camino) and get a sello on your credencial twice per day if 100 km is all that you walk. Since your objective is photography, and the compostela is intended to be given for spiritual or religious purposes, you wouldn't necessarily qualify for a compostela anyhow.

As for landscapes ... there is nothing spectacular about any scenery found on the camino. Its mostly pleasant and usually bucolic countryside and old villages. If I was you ... I'd pick a section of 9 days to walk and get a sampling rather than try to skip and hop from one piece of baroque architecture to another. Ponferrada to Santiago would suit your purposes.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

dear Falcon; thanks for your insights. i'm reconsidering trying to cover so much ground. my story is about "walking", as a meditative form that opens possibilities for seeing. if we spend a major period of our time in transit, we'll have less time to immerse in walking experience. can you provide your insights on our new proposed trail...from Ponferrada to Santiago. would this offer diverse landscape and what I've outlined? again, big thanks! /ray
p.s. do we need to have our credential stamped from the very beginning to allows to stay in allergies? thx!

Ponferrada to Santiago can be done in nine days. It is about 218 km, so it will take steady movement!

I like the terrain and scenery from Ponferrada onward. The first day will not have much altitude change, but once you head up the Valcarce river valley, you will do lots of climbing.

You do not need stamps in your credential to stay in the albergues. The stamps are for qualifying for a compostela. You need two stamps per day in the last 100 km (basically from Sarria) to qualify. Possession of the credential is necessary to get into public albergues and some private ones. There is the occasional hospitalero who looks at stamps with some personal agenda. They might deny admittance if you have not walked far enough in their estimation. Move on. You don't want to stay with them anyway!

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I'm a photographer on a 9-day pilgrimage, working on a magazine assignment that came up suddenly. we want to photograph portions of the entire trail, from the Pyrenees to Santiago and needing to be discriminate. We fly in to Madrid on April 12 and will board a train. question is; do we need to begin at Saint Jean Pied-de-Port? it's difficult to get to and not sure it's worthy of the time. perhaps begin at Pamplona or Bayonne? we're planning 3 days in the Pyrenees and will then jump to the Meseta and end in Santiago. I'm looking for diversity in landscape and interchanges between natural and man-made, agriculture, etc. I'd be especially grateful for any insights for how to cover the trail within these three regions or other suggestions, as well. many thanks! /ray

the Camino laves teh pyrenees rather abrupty, unless you want to go to Jaca and cover that portion which is pretty spectacular and more of what you may have in mind. saint jean is not necessary, but you may want to consider getting to roncesvalles (bus from pamplona). very roughly, in my opinion, the Camino as you and your magazine probably understand it is:
1. small section coming off the pyrenees
2. dry, albeit greener in teh spring, and hilly all the way from pamplona to burgos
3. the meseta between palencia and astorga
4. the first of big hills/small mountains in teh bierzo region (west leon province to teh border with galicia)
5. rolling green hills and patches of forest though galicia to santiago
in other words, the Camino is not really mountains.
iconic locations you may want to consider including: there are a million, but here are some of my favourites: alto del perdón, eunate/puente la reina, cathedrals at burgos and león, san juan ortega, itero del castillo area, fromista, cruz de hierro, el acebo, o cebreiro, samos, portomarín...

good luck

 

[Deke]

Ponferrada to Santiago can be done in nine days. It is about 218 km, so it will take steady movement!

I like the terrain and scenery from Ponferrada onward. The first day will not have much altitude change, but once you head up the Valcarce river valley, you will do lots of climbing.

You do not need stamps in your credential to stay in the albergues. The stamps are for qualifying for a compostela. You need two stamps per day in the last 100 km (basically from Sarria) to qualify. Possession of the credential is necessary to get into public albergues and some private ones. There is the occasional hospitalero who looks at stamps with some personal agenda. They might deny admittance if you have not walked far enough in their estimation. Move on. You don't want to stay with them anyway!

excllent! thank you again! very helpful. /ray

 

[movinmaggie]

I'm a photographer on a 9-day pilgrimage, working on a magazine assignment that came up suddenly. we want to photograph portions of th

 

[movinmaggie]

My apology if I erred on this thread. I am still a bit inept when it comes to cutting and pasting. I did respond to the OP, then had a change of heart. I wish the best in your endeavor.