Tripod or monopod?

[Travel Guru]

*To save my BF having to stand still with my leaning on his shoulder, I thought a monopod would be a good idea. There's not always something around to rest the tripod on, like standing in the middle of the crowd. Is there an ultra compact monopod that anyone uses? I carry only what I can fit in a very tiny backpack, and I do have a mini tripod, but I want something that I can rest on the ground since I'm not always off to the side of an event, I like to be in the middle of the action. :o*