Precautions if you befriend a dissident?

The Cuban government has read all of your correspondence with this person, don't be surprised if you are stopped at the airport by some state security person and asked how you know them ,what your relationship is and why you're in Cuba,been there done that, but not with a dissident,just your average everyday Cuban and it happened in the Varadero airport in 2014.

PS neither the Cuban nor myself ever heard anything about the incident afterwards.

I was thinking of having a Santa Clara lawyer at the ready, just in case I attract attention from the wrong people. Any thoughts?

Totally useless, unfortunately. The only thing almost as useless will be your Embassy.

And YanquiBoy @ #1 may sound paranoid and overly dramatic, but he's not. Chances are slim you'll be questioned at Immigration, but it is possible because the government is certainly aware of all your correspondence.

Next, you don't need to hang out with Mr. Vivero to get a taste of the so-called "real" Cuba. The real Cuba is everywhere, simply open your eyes/ears and hang out with a bottle of rum and watch the world go by.

Lastly, are you sure Mr. Vivero still lives in Santa Clara? If you're going out of your way to see him be sure to confirm exactly where he is because he could be way out in the sticks with no easy public transport access.

Good luck, have fun and use common sense.

Cheers,
Terry

Don't poke a sleeping dog with a stick.

It is always easy to find trouble, if you are searching for it, anywhere in the world.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/derechos-humanos/1476429378_25996.html

"Grafómano disléxico. Sus paradojas son magníficas. Parece un Lord Byron aporético: cojea por capricho y a menudo corre. Se cree un modernista el muchacho, y algunos crédulos le llaman Abel Invernal. Pamplinas: desde antier es, a pesar suyo, El encalabozado"

It is always easy to find trouble, if you are searching for it, anywhere in the world.

I suppose that you're right. I just have a hard time wrapping my mind around the concept that people really have to go through this kind of thing. Once you wrap your mind around THAT concept, consider that about 1/3 of the planet is worse off than the typical Cuban. I come up with that estimate taking information from the opposition at face value. If one doesn't take opposition information at face value then even a greater proportion of the world is worse off.

People in Cuba really have to go through that kind of thing.I think I was flagged at the airport because of a couple of negative exchanges we shared about Cuba and Castro in the emails going back and forth before that trip. Everything is monitored right down to the block folks live on,CDR.It's a police state which also is the reason it's very safe.Don't be intimidated but also don't go out of your way to provoke anything either.

If you associate with a dissident, guaranteed you will be questioned upon departure. I did so unknowingly several years ago and it resulted in extensive questioning that year...and every time I entered the country for the next three years or so.

Not pleasant. Those doing the questioning don't crack a smile and their demeanor suggests they'd rather be locking you up than wasting time asking you questions.

Chances are the Cuban government has already read this post and will be looking out for you anyway.

Play with fire, you'll get burnt

I am careful not to bring up the government in any of my emails. Works both ways.