Every town and city in Norway has a gågate (walking street).  And every gågate has its regulars.

In Oslo there are two types of regulars – the regular-regulars, who are on the street every week, and the seasonal-regulars who return year after year.

The tribal American Indians are an odd regularity in Norway.  I see them every now and then in Tromsø too.  They must be on a seasonal circuit around the Nordic countries to busk and flog their panpipe CDs.

The balloon-shaper has always been a delight for the kids.  He comes in his balloon-hat to make sure the kids can find him.  He most often stands at the crossing of Nedre Slotsgate.

There can be a couple of different ‘pop’ artists on Oslo’s gågate.  I’ve seen this artists several times on trips to Oslo laying his work out in hope that someone will buy.  He makes chalk pictures but I don’t think Oslo folk are too into art that rubs off onto your hands and clothes.  His artwork reminds me of the chalk pavement artists back home.  Long paths of colourful murals were always a crowd pleaser.  I think the crowd was drawn to this momentary art because they knew when night fell it would be washed away by the cleaning trucks.  Unfortunately drawing on the pavement is not an option for an Artist on Oslo’s gågate – snow is likely to fall at any moment and destroy a master piece even before it is sketched out.

The badge-man has always showed up every Saturday I’ve walked along this street.  I’ve never bought a badge but I have read some of the badges on his box, wondering what I would write on mine.  For a tourist this would be a fun memento of Oslo.

The dress-up sellers are just that – sellers dressed up.  Sometimes they put on a little performance (if they are advertising their own show) but most times the costumes and hats are used to attract the attractable.  I must say, I do like a man in a tophat ;D.