Here in Copenhagen, Denmark you can see loads of tourists hanging around in the middle of Amalienborg Palace, the winter home of the Danish royal family. Notice how they’ve formed a straight line on the south side? That’s because this image was captured at around midday when tourists gather to watch the changing of the guard, which takes here every single day of the year.

The guard have to march through the streets of Copenhagen all the way from Rosenborg castle (where the Crown Jewels are kept), which has some rather pretty-looking landscaping.

I’m looking at my mobile phone here, and I’m pretty sure it says ‘Sony Ericsson’ across the front… Isn’t it about time these guys updated their roof?

Thanks to Steven Arnold.

I’m not sure what it’s like where you are… but here in Edinburgh, Christmas seems to be well underway, despite the fact that at time of writing we’re still 19 days away…

Presumably the U.S. National Christmas Tree (a 40-foot Colorado blue spruce) has been lit by now, and even although it isn’t decorated in this satellite image, it has got a very cool shadow.

Apparently there are 36 million Christmas trees produced each year, and looking at the list of Christmas Tree farms in the US you can totally believe it. Totally at random, here’s a small farm near Janesville, Iowa.

Back here in the UK, one of the few christmas tree farms I can find with high-resolution imagery is Elveden Farms, near Cambridge, which has this cool x-shaped plantation of trees.

Finally, if you live in or around Edinburgh and have yet to pick up a tree for this year, consider getting one through the Bethany’s Caring Christmas Trees site, as for each tree bought, they will provide a homeless person with a hot meal, a bed for the night, and breakfast. You’ll have to hurry though, as there’s only six days left to reserve your tree!

See Wikipedia for the full unabridged history of the Christmas Tree.

Thanks to Ben Brockert and Hinkkanen.

You might remember the communities where to be part of the “in” crowd is to have your own tennis court. That’s all very well but in Cielo Dorado Estates you need your own plane! There’s a private runway running right though the centre of the community which is shared by all the residents. The community website has annotated maps and ground level photos. It looks like there might still be a couple of plots of land available, if you’re interested

Perhaps you’d prefer Denver to New Mexico? No problem, they’ve got a similar setup. Most of the houses in these areas have large hangars to house their planes, but the odd one is parked outside.

But what about those houses which aren’t directly on the runway (like this one in another community in Dallas)? That’s no problem as the connecting roads are extra-wide to accommodate you driving your plane down to the runway for your Sunday afternoon flights.

Thanks: Myke Westover, BlueTypewriter & Mousky

A factory just south if the Brisbane River in Queensland displays ‘Colly Farms Cotton‘. I’m presuming they’re spinning cotton in there, despite Colly Cotton being “solely a marketing company” since its absorbtion by the Twynam agricultural group.

Of course, where there’s large type there’s almost always a nearby airport.

Thanks: woowoowoo