Abstract: Quantum optical systems are well suited for pushing the boundaries of quantum physics. Two big goals in this context are the creation of entanglement over long distances and the observation of quantum effects on macroscopic scales. I will describe various theoretical and some experimental work in these directions. In particular I am planning to discuss quantum repeaters with multimode quantum memories, the potential for global entanglement using satellite links and repeaters, work towards the quantum non-demolition detection of photonic qubits in rare-earth doped crystals, ideas on photon-photon gates based on Rydberg states, an experiment creating micro-macro entanglement of light, and a proposal for spin cat states in Bose-Einstein condensates.