This 72-yr-old woman has an unusual, well-paying job — to guard John Lennon’s glasses!

The popular tourist attraction in the island capital has a heavy footfall all through the year and has been at the receiving end of some mischief as well. Since 2000, when the world famous bronze statue-bench was installed in the park with Lennon’s iconic round spectacle, many pairs have gone missing. Tired of replacing the signature glasses, the government decided to hire a keeper to safeguard it.

Cuba has a very unique relationship with the legendary singer-composer as Beatles was banned in Cuba by the then leader Fidel Castro in 1964, as a part of his agenda to fight Western capitalism. However, Lennon was immensely popular among the masses and many of his albums were circulated by underground movement. Later, due to his vocal criticism of the US policies in foreign lands, Castro liked him and the ban was lifted. Later on Lennon’s 20th death anniversary, this famous statue was installed.

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According to the report, about two years ago, her own glasses were taken from the statue. “The glasses were mine,” says Padrasa, “but I wasn’t watching and when I turned around they were gone.” After the third one went missing the government hired her. Since then every day as soon as the first tourist bus arrives in the park, she puts the pair of glasses atop Lennon’s nose securing it from her bag and spends rest of the day guarding it.