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