French language Q&A Forum

Is there a difference in meaning between "J'ai été là pendant quarante-cinq minutes" vs. "J'étais là pendant quarante-cinq minutes"?  My inclination was to use passé composé because it was an action that happened and ended, but I see the latter sentence in the lesson example.  Can someone please explain the difference?

I think this is a typo in the last sentence.  It should be "cet après-midi" not "cette". 

To go, come, climb down something. I don’t understand why a descendu doesn’t work for Jack climbing down the giant. The lesson seems to allow for it. Very confusing but not a phrase I’m likely to be using!