Thunderstorms

Have you ever been in a thunderstorm? If so, 

could you tell me a little bit about it. I was in a fantastic storm three years ago in Mexico. It happened to be July the 4th.  I thought it was a better show than any fireworks show I had ever seen.  I was looking out over the water when two thunderheads were having what seemed to be a competition.  One cloud would clap and send off bolts of lightening and then the other one would do the same.  It went on for over a half an hour.  The rain didn't come our way for another half an hour. How far away was the storm?