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TimeGuessr 489 Answers & Analysis
Find daily TimeGuessr answers explained with historical context & photo analysis. Perfect for improving your game and understanding TimeGuessr insights for #489

Hei! Which is a typical Norwegian greeting which is “hello” in Norwegian. Hei, though informal, is the greeting most used in everyday life. Based on the first photo from todays daily game of TimeGuessr 489.
Regardless welcome to today’s edition of Daily Photo Analysis! Dive into the stories behind yesterday’s most intriguing photos from TimeGuessr #489, from Wednesday, October 2, 2024.
Table of Contents
Photo 1: A troupe of PETA activists partaking in a choreographed musical protest against McDonald's animal treatment practices

David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Summary of Analysis:
Signage: The signs reference "McCruelty" and McDonald’s, linking this to an animal rights protest. The "PETA" branding and slogans support this connection.
Architecture and Infrastructure: The urban environment, with large LED billboards, and the recognizable advertisement style, points to Times Square, New York City.
Crowd and Attire: Participants are dressed in chicken costumes, aligning with PETA’s usual protest tactics. The casual clothing of bystanders suggests a contemporary period.
Geographical Features: The yellow taxis and bustling urban landscape, typical of New York City, indicate a high-traffic area like Times Square.
General Context: The combination of protest themes, signage, and the city setting strongly suggests this is a PETA demonstration, specifically one of their well-documented protests in Times Square.
Year:
This photograph appears to have been taken in 2010.
The McCruelty campaign was in full swing during this time, and the fashion and branding trends visible in the image correspond with the early 2010s.
The advertising styles in the background, along with the media coverage of similar protests, also point to this specific year.
Location:
The photo was likely taken in Times Square, New York City, New York, USA.
The bright billboards, advertisements, and yellow taxis suggest this iconic location. Times Square is frequently used for protests and large gatherings, making it a fitting backdrop for PETA’s demonstration.
The density of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, combined with recognizable landmarks, confirm this as Times Square.
Photo 2: A long-exposure shot of a street scene in 40s Oslo

Anders Beer Wilse, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Summary of Analysis:
Signage: The sign “Stortingskaffeen” and other words in Norwegian indicate the photo is set in Norway, confirming the Scandinavian location.
Architecture and Infrastructure: The building architecture with detailed facades and street layout points to early 20th-century design, typical of Norwegian urban development.
Crowd and Attire: People in long coats reflect a colder climate. The blur suggests a long-exposure shot, common in older street photography.
Geographical Features: The cobbled streets and the combination of signage in Norwegian further confirm this is a Norwegian city.
General Context: The scene likely takes place in a Norwegian city, evidenced by the language, building style, and public cafe setting.
Year:
This photograph is likely from 1939-1945.
The vehicles’ design, especially the grille and overall shape, are typical of cars produced in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
The presence of cobblestone streets without modern traffic lights indicates a timeframe around World War II.
Location:
The photo was taken in Oslo, Norway.
The "Stortingskaffeen" sign and other Norwegian text confirm this is in Oslo. The architectural style and cobbled streets are reminiscent of central Oslo during this period, specifically in areas near the Stortinget (parliament) where cafes like this were common.
Photo 3: Sailors taking part in a ceremony welcoming Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard to the Dutch constituent country Sint Maarten (Saint Martin)

Willem van de Poll, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Summary of Analysis:
Signage: The banner reads, “With Loyal Hearts and True…” welcoming Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, which points to a Dutch royal visit.
Architecture and Infrastructure: The colonial-style wooden building with a balcony is characteristic of Caribbean architecture, especially in Dutch territories.
Crowd and Attire: The naval uniforms and formal presentation of the soldiers suggest this is a ceremonial event, likely tied to a state visit.
Geographical Features: The tropical setting is hinted at by the style of the wooden structures and the outdoor event under clear skies.
General Context: This is likely a Dutch Caribbean island, based on the visit of Dutch royalty and the surrounding architecture.
Year:
This photograph appears to have been taken in 1955.
The attire of the military personnel and the references to Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard's visit correspond to their tours of the Dutch Caribbean in the mid-1950s. The formal military uniforms and the banners indicate a significant royal visit during this time.
Location:
The photo was likely taken in Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean.
The banner welcoming Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard places the event in a Dutch Caribbean territory.
Sint Maarten was one of the locations visited during their royal tours.
The colonial wooden architecture further supports this identification, as it is a hallmark of Dutch colonial territories in the Caribbean.
Note: In English the island is spelled “Saint Martin”
Photo 4: A traffic policeman directing the flow of vehicles in downtown Cairo, Egypt

Gordon Sinclair / Alamy Stock Photo
Summary of Analysis:
Signage: The storefront signs in Arabic, combined with one referencing "Parisienne," suggest the presence of French influence, typical of North African countries.
Architecture and Infrastructure: The ornate balconies and dense urban architecture reflect a blend of French colonial and local Middle Eastern styles, which is common in cities like Cairo.
Crowd and Attire: The bustling street, including a police officer directing traffic, showcases a mid-to-late 20th-century urban scene.
Geographical Features: The mixture of Arabic and French on storefronts, along with the type of vehicles, points to a North African metropolis.
General Context: The scene likely depicts a bustling North African city influenced by French culture, with significant pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
Year:
This photograph was taken in 1988.
The specific car models, like the Peugeot, and the design of the police uniforms correspond to late 1980s trends. The general condition of the vehicles and the absence of modern traffic management systems also indicate the late 1980s.
Location:
The photo was likely taken in Cairo, Egypt.
The Arabic signage, French colonial architecture, and the overall bustling urban environment point to downtown Cairo.
This part of the city has historically seen a blend of French influence and local culture, further supported by the type of businesses present in the photo.
Photo 5: French President Emmanuel Macron showcasing the french-coloured glass roof in the Élysée Palace as part of an art installation by artist Daniel Buren

Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo
Summary of Analysis:
Signage: While no visible signage is present, the grand design of the interior space provides enough context to identify the location.
Architecture and Infrastructure: The ornate columns, chandeliers, and stained-glass ceiling point to a prestigious building in Paris with neoclassical design elements.
Crowd and Attire: The formal attire and presence of masks suggest this event took place post-2020, during a formal or prestigious event.
Geographical Features: The elaborate stained-glass ceiling and luxurious decor suggest a famous Parisian venue known for its grandeur.
General Context: The setting appears to be a formal event, and the distinctive architecture suggests an iconic indoor space in Paris.
Year:
This photograph was likely taken in 2021.
The presence of masks indicates that the event occurred after the COVID-19 pandemic began, and the attire reflects a formal gathering typical of high-profile events in recent years.
Location:
The photo was taken inside the Élysée Palace, Paris, France.
The Élysée Palace, the official residence of the President of France, features a grand interior with neoclassical architecture, chandeliers, and an iconic stained-glass ceiling, making it an ideal match for this event.
This palace regularly hosts formal state functions, which aligns with the large crowd in attendance.
The combination of decor, grandeur, and event significance points directly to the Élysée Palace.
Personal Score
TimeGuessr #489 36,692/50,000
🌎🟩🟩🟨 📅🟩🟨⬛
🌎🟩⬛️⬛️ 📅🟩⬛⬛
🌎🟩🟩🟨 📅⬛️⬛️⬛️
🌎🟩🟩🟨 📅🟩⬛⬛
🌎🟩🟩🟨 📅🟩🟩🟩
Today I was quite proud of my location guesses, however, I thought it was Copenhagen and not Oslo. But that is still a round I was ok with, but my confidence did peak when I saw the “Sint Marten” sign as I am actually planning a trip out there within the next year to visit a friend who just visited out there! So I nailed the location on that one, but I was way off on the year because I thought it was the Springfield M1903 gun which was standard issue by the US in WW1. Even though the picture quality looked quite good, I followed that logic.
Thanks! Leave a comment below with either your score or any additional suggestions or insights that I have not have included!
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Guess on!
-JonErik
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