"Dressed as the Grinch and riding his mototaxi, Jefferson Castro has been spreading unexpected Christmas cheer on the streets of Lima, a city grappling with a state of emergency and rising insecurity in public transport. Footage shows Castro travelling through the capital aboard his brightly decorated mototaxi, transformed into a rolling sleigh complete with festive lights, a plastic reindeer and shimmering ornaments. The eye-catching vehicle has become a cheerful urban spectacle for residents and tourists alike. "I chose the Grinch because the Grinch does not like Christmas. And definitely the motorbike attracts Christmas, it attracts smiles. So I said the Grinch. And the Grinch has to be at times a little annoying, a little playful, but he always ends up pleasing people," Castro explained. Children and adults stop to wave, take photos or simply smile as he passes by. In a city often defined by traffic, noise and tension, the so-called 'Moto Noel' offers a brief escape from daily worries. "I think that I am stealing a smile from people, a lot. Wherever I go, from the smallest to the biggest. I disconnect them from reality for a moment. I take away that worry, those family pains that some may have," he said. Despite strict municipal regulations governing public transport signage and vehicle modifications, local authorities granted special permission for Castro’s festive initiative during the holiday season. He said the project was driven by a desire for human connection, particularly at a time when violence against transport workers has intensified. "Definitely, the 'moto Noel' has given me the satisfaction of being able to enter into empathy with my fellow man. And that smile as a human being fills me," Castro added. The transport sector remains one of the most affected by violence in Peru. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, between January and November this year, 134 transport workers in Lima were subjected to attacks or extortion, with 73 killed, including mototaxi drivers."