Hello GC - welcome!. One of the members here is Malek Mrowa ("Mal"), and he resides in Lebanon, restored his car as well as a 190 SL. Maybe he can recommend a good shop to you. Search the member directory and send him an email if he does not spot your question here.
There are indeed few things more fun than tinkering with a Pagoda and, even more fun, tooling around in it in the kind of climate you enjoy.
Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic